eLearningbyDana

Evaluation Plan

A documented approach for determining what will be evaluated, what evidence will be collected, and how results will be used to judge whether a learning solution is working as intended.

Evaluation Plan

Decide how you will know whether the learning worked.

An evaluation plan documents what will be evaluated, what evidence will be collected, and how the results will be interpreted and used.

Planning this early helps keep evaluation connected to the original learning and performance goals.

Planning Question What evidence would tell us that this learning made a useful difference?

The answer helps guide measures, data sources, timing, responsibilities, and follow-up decisions.

An Evaluation Plan Gives the Team a Shared Approach

It turns evaluation from an afterthought into a deliberate part of the learning strategy.

Clarifies Success Defines what meaningful learning or performance improvement should look like.
Guides Data Collection Identifies the evidence that can realistically show whether change occurred.
Aligns Stakeholders Creates agreement about what will be measured and who needs to contribute.
Supports Decisions Establishes how findings may inform revisions, reinforcement, or future action.
The plan should be useful enough to guide decisions, not simply exist as project documentation.

Define the Important Pieces Before You Collect Data

These are planning components, not a required order. The exact plan will vary by project.

Success Criteria What learning, behavior, performance, or business change would indicate success?
Evaluation Questions What does the team actually need to learn from the evaluation?
Measures What information could reasonably indicate progress or change?
Data Sources Where will the evidence come from, and is it realistically available?
Start with what the team needs to know, then choose measures and data that can help answer those questions.

Choose Measures That Connect to the Intended Outcome

A useful plan distinguishes evidence that directly reflects the goal from information that provides supporting context.

Directly Connected Measures tied closely to the intended change
  • Assessment or skill performance
  • Accuracy or error reduction
  • Observed behavior change
  • Quality or productivity improvement
Supporting Context Information that may help explain the result
  • Course completion
  • Learner confidence
  • Satisfaction or feedback
  • Participation or usage patterns
Use the strongest evidence available for the goal, while recognizing that some outcomes require multiple signals.

Identify Where the Evidence Will Come From

Evaluation plans should use data that is both meaningful and realistically accessible.

Learning Data Assessment results, attempts, completions, practice performance, or learning analytics.
Learner Input Surveys, interviews, comments, confidence ratings, or structured feedback.
Workplace Evidence Observation, error rates, quality measures, productivity, or other performance indicators.
Stakeholder Input Managers, SMEs, clients, coaches, or others who can provide useful context.
Do not build an evaluation plan around data that the team cannot realistically collect or access.

Decide When Evaluation Happens and Who Is Involved

Timing and ownership help turn the evaluation plan into something the team can actually carry out.

Timing When will evidence be collected?
  • During the learning experience
  • Immediately after completion
  • After learners return to work
  • At a later follow-up point
Responsibilities Who will provide, collect, or review the evidence?
  • Instructional designer or L&D team
  • Managers or coaches
  • SMEs or business partners
  • LMS, analytics, or operations teams
Assign realistic responsibilities early so evaluation does not disappear after the learning launches.

Before You Finalize the Evaluation Plan

Check that the plan is practical, aligned, and focused on information the team can actually use.

Final Question Will this plan help us determine whether the learning made a meaningful difference?

If not, revisit the success criteria, measures, or evaluation questions.

✓
Success is clear The intended learning or performance change is defined.
✓
Measures fit the goal The selected evidence connects to what matters.
✓
Data is obtainable Sources, timing, and access are realistic.
✓
Ownership is defined The team knows who will collect, review, and use the findings.
A strong evaluation plan connects success, evidence, timing, responsibilities, and decisions before launch.

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