Ever since I started to deliver training I have almost always had an exam at the end of it.
At least I do for significant (multi-week) training courses. Some people are against this practice, some think it is not fair, and others seem to think that paying to attend the course is justification alone for passing.
Too bad. They work, and they work on a number of levels.
1) It is the great equalizer - no matter if you are the CEO, the president, or the guy who cleans the toilet. You can fail.
2) It prepares people for critical thinking after the course is over.
3) It makes sure they pay attention, and that they study. You will find that the only people who complain afterwards are those who took it lightly and are having trouble living with the consequences of their actions.
4) In a large course (20 upwards) it gives you a tool not for evaluation - but for discipline also. 30 grown adults can be very hard to manage over a multi-week course.
5) It reminds them that they learned something - Post course euphoria is common, this adds to that.
Working through a hard, but not too hard, exam, gives people the chance to realize that they have come a long way. I often get people thanking me for the test. Can you imagine that?
I have had high ranking people scream at me when they got a low score for goofing off othroughout the course - I remain in touch with one poor technician in Peru ho did very well through his own hard work (he's a manager now).
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