Conversational Statistics, ROI and Adult Learning
Did you know, as an Alliance member, you have access to Almanac archives dating back to 1995? Log in to your Alliance member account and navigate to this archive. Also, the Almanac features a wealth of knowledge curated over the years. Check out three past articles to get a taste of the breadth of thought leadership shared on the Almanac.
Conversational Statistics: Redefining the Language of Statistics in CE
By Karyn D. Ruiz-Cordell, MA, PhD
You don’t need to be a statistician to “talk stats,” nor is statistical jargon the most effective way to communicate the value and impact of your education. This article briefly explores analogs for statistical terms with explanations (including “translations” and examples), enabling educators of all proficiency levels to more confidently participate in meaningful data-driven conversations. Read more.
The Case for ROI: Why It Is Important
By Angela K. Gomez, PhD, BCBE
As an education professional, you should be familiar with Kirkpatrick’s four levels of evaluation. It is worth noting that there is a shifting of conceptual gears between the third and fourth elements in Kirkpatrick’s framework. The first three elements center on the learner; their reactions, their learning, and changes in their behavior. The fourth element shifts to a concern with organizational payoffs or business results. Kirkpatrick was careful not to imply that a complete cycle of evaluation from Level 1 to Level 4 can always be completed. He suggested that approximations of benefits in non-measurable terms may be substituted for operational measures if the politics and costs of obtaining operational data and transforming them to financial measures are too complicated. Read more.
Adult Learning: Testing Myths and Truths
By Carol S. Havens, MD, FAAFP; and Shelly B. Rodrigues, CAE, FACEHP
The field of adult education and thus continuing medical education, continuing education and continuing professional development is covered widely in research, literature, how-to books, peer reviewed articles and the lay press. Do education professionals really know the tenets of adult learning? Are we just passing along the myths we’ve picked up along our own journeys? Read more.