You might call them your pre-assessment quizzes, ‘test outs’, pre-tests or your ‘learning gauge-ometer’ (is that just us?).
Either way, a diagnostic is a simple and effective tool to gauge the level or knowledge base of your learners, and we think they are pretty awesome!
The test appears at the start of the course or programme, maybe your annual compliance training for example, and is designed to personalise the learner’s experience based on their current knowledge or skill level.
This is about meeting the learner where they are and really valuing their time and headspace. Once the learner has gone through the diagnostic or test, the subsequent learning content can be personalised to cater for their needs and exact requirements. Saving everyone time, and the business money (time is money, after all!). It’s a win-win for everyone involved.
With more and more pressure on L&D teams to showcase their impact and be effective (and efficient) – we need to ensure we’re being targeted. Sure, this isn’t groundbreaking news, but sometimes it’s important to remind ourselves that the tried and tested methods are still ones we can rely on and prioritise.
In our ever-increasingly time-poor working world is the power of the diagnostic more important than ever?
So, let’s remind ourselves, why are test-outs so beneficial?
Time is the new currency
Staff have ever-growing to-do lists and need to ensure that they focus on return-on-effort as well as return on investment. The simple act of saving someone’s time is more valuable than we may realise.
“The cost of learning content is nothing compared to the cost of time wasted for learners to go through things they already know.”
Prioritising focus
Effective pre-course assessments can enable the learner to focus on areas of learning they are unsure about or that they need a refresh on. Rather than focusing on familiar content and creating fatigue from repetition – you ensure your learners remain sharply focused on the learning that matters to them.
Meeting learners where they are
The art of personalisation is an area that we encourage L&D professionals to continue to perfect and nurture. You might be using a role selector to ensure people only go through sections of a learning course that are relevant to their specific job – adding a diagnostic or test-out takes the personalisation a step further. Now they only need to complete the sections the assessment showed they were less sure on. If they pass everything, the can skip to the end!
Turning a negative into a positive
We all want our learners to enjoy their learning experiences and to feel like they are getting the most out of the time spent on their development. This can be an escape from the daily grind and it’s essential that this time feels positive and rewarding. By creating more personalised learning – you create more meaningful experiences for your learners. Ultimately, things are less boring and learners are left feeling more satisfied and fulfilled.
So, how can we make better use of this approach?
Personalisation (or adaptive delivery) was recently voted as the 4th hottest topic in L&D for 2024 (Global Sentiment Survey) but nearly 50% of L&D teams rate their use of assessment and diagnostic tools (a key personalisation approach) as ‘Basic’ (Fosway Digital Learning Realities 2023). So, how we can ensure we do better?
There are many ways you can empower your learner to be re-energised by learning and development. What we want to avoid is frustrating learners who already have experience with the topic.
Our 4 top tips for effectively using a diagnostic:
1. Prioritise personalisation
We know that learners need a bespoke experience nowadays to feel engaged, valued and interested. Have this in mind from the start and think about the simple ways you can personalise the experience, such as using role selectors or assessments to dynamically tailor learning pathways.
2. Shout about the benefits
Let learners know that the test at the start of the course is there to help them. If they can already demonstrate the required level of knowledge or skill, they can skip sections of the course – if not, they’ll get help.
3. Ensure tests are short and sweet
Pre-tests and assessments are great as they help identify necessary training – but don’t make this initial opener too lengthy or complex for the learner. Minimise frustration by making it quick and easy, before they get into the main learning.
4. Let the learner create their own journey
Just because someone passes the pre-test with flying colours, doesn’t mean they don’t want to continue through the learning course. Give them the option to either skip the sections they’ve already passed or go through them anyway if they still feel like they could do with a reminder.
Final thoughts…
Maybe you didn’t need convincing about the power of diagnostic tools (or pre-assessment quizzes or ‘test outs’) – but we believe that this simple personalisation tool is often overlooked. We are here to make the lives of your learners as straightforward as possible when it comes to their learning experiences. We know they have a lot of pressure and challenges – and we want to ensure that their learning is useful and enjoyable. We value their time and we value your bottom line too!
To discuss how diagnostic devices could be better used in your learning content – get in touch with our friendly team today. We’d love to brainstorm how to find the perfect solution for you and your learners.