1. Institution Name Questions you need answered 2. Institution Name 3. Institution Name Yes No Yes No Yes No 1. Does the course/program say what you’ll learn? A quality course states clearly what skills and knowledge you’ll acquire. They may be called "learning outcomes" or "skill competencies" or "course objectives." They should be stated very specifically. How important is this to you? Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 2. Is there evidence that the course/program actually delivers those training outcomes? A quality program will have been formally evaluated. There should be clear reports that tell how well individual students did and how well the overall course is managed. This information should be available in an understandable format. Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 3. Are the skills and knowledge you’ll be expected to learn up-to-date and related to real industry requirements? Ask how the course objectives or learning outcomes were decided. Real workers or industry representatives should have been involved. There should be evidence of real employment opportunities where you want to live and concern for the changing nature of work in the industry. Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 4. Are the skills and knowledge general enough to fit a variety of work settings and to help you with further skill upgrading? Quality training includes a range of employability skills that are applicable in various worksites and that new skills can be built on. There should be some focus on the future. Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 5. Is there a direct connection to real employment and to future opportunity? Training equipment should be modern and relevant to real work sites. There should be a direct link to actual work through, eg., co-op placements, mentoring, apprenticeship, internship, and/or workplace simulations. Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 6. Is there flexibility in scheduling and delivery? Quality training provides options for full-time and part-time study, for on-site or distance delivery, for day-time or evening study. More importantly, quality training allows enough time and flexibility so that you can succeed through, for example, training modules and competency-based testing. Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 7. Will the method(s) of instruction ensure that you can learn? In quality training, there is variety in the teaching approach, eg., lectures, readings, demonstrations, hands-on practice, technologically-based instruction. There should be enough flexibility that you can apply your preferred learning style in order to be successful. Appropriate technologies and innovative approaches should be available. Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 8. Do you know how you will be evaluated? In quality training, there is a variety of evaluation methods, written and oral tests, demonstrations, group assignments, etc. There should be frequent feedback about your progress. You should know how success is defined and measured, and what kinds of tests will be applied in advance. And you should have a say in how success is defined for you. Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 9. Will your instructors be top quality? Teaching staff should have recognized qualifications, demonstrated instructional skills for adults, relevant experience and/or current knowledge in the field. You should have the opportunity to provide feedback to instructors and program organizers. Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 10. Are the learning materials appropriate, affordable and of high quality? Teaching materials should be well-organized, up-to-date, understandable, clear, and free of bias. They should be relevant to the actual learners, the community, and the industry. Appropriate and necessary technologies should be used. Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 11. Are the training facilities safe, clean and accessible? Are the support services you need, eg., childcare, food services, parking, available and affordable? Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 12. Will you be treated equally, regardless of your gender, ethnicity, or disabilities? Quality training should be accessible to all, and it should promote diversity. Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 13. Are you treated like an adult and a valued customer? Are choices explained to you? A quality training program will have available lots of information, IN WRITING, that is current and understandable. Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 14. Are you treated like an individual? In quality training, learners are involved in decision-making. Instructors work to understand and accommodate the learning styles, previous experiences, special limitations and abilities of individuals. Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 15. Do you know that this is the right move for you? A quality training institution will provide career and personal counselling to help you make an informed choice, not just at the outset, but throughout your program. Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 16. Is the training efficient? Quality training attempts give you the best return on your time and money. It should begin with assessment and recognition of your formal and informal prior learning so that you don’t have to repeat or relearn what you already know. Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 17. Will you end up with a useful credential? Quality training should result in credits or credentials that can be transferred from one teaching institution to another, from one province to another, and from one employer to another. Training institutions should provide a formal statement of achievement of learning outcomes that are respected by other institutions. Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Yes No Yes No Yes No 18. Is the training institution credible and reputable? A quality training institution has the administrative capacity to provide current and useful information, to conduct student and program evaluations, to maintain student records and financial accountability, and to establish links with employers, the community and other training institutions. It provides quality instructors and instruction as described above. Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important Jump to Top Thank You for Participating We are glad that you were able to make use of the Consumer’s Guide to Training. In return we ask that you allow us to retain your responses, anonymously in our database for future research. Is that OK with you? Allow Disallow © 1995 - 2002 FuturEd™ Inc. All Rights Reserved Site Design by: Talltech Systems Inc. www.talltech.com