LEVEL 1: BEYOND SMILEY SHEETS (REACTION)

Traditionally, Level 1: Reaction evaluates how participants feel about a training program usually captured through post-training surveys that ask questions like:

Did you enjoy the session?
Was the facilitator engaging?
Was the content useful?

These are often referred to as “smiley sheets” because they gauge satisfaction, not effectiveness. But in today’s context, just liking the training is not enough.

Reimagining Level 1 for Transfer:

To make Level 1 meaningful in driving training transfer effectiveness, we must ask deeper, more purposeful questions:

Are participants motivated to apply what they have learned?
Do they believe the training is relevant to their job?
Can they see how the content connects to performance expectations?
Do they feel supported to use these skills in the real world?

In other words, we are shifting from “Did you like it?” to “Are you ready and willing to use it?”

This reimagined approach transforms Level 1 into a diagnostic tool for understanding the emotional and cognitive readiness of participants to apply what they have learned a critical precursor to behaviour change.

When you evaluate learner mindset, perceived value, and intent to apply, Level 1 becomes a foundation for transfer, not just a formality.

At ITTEC 2025, we are unpacking how to reimagine all four levels of the Kirkpatrick Model. Join global experts as we explore how to design, measure, and support learning that actually transfers.

Let us go from training to transformation together.

#TrainingTransferEffectiveness #KirkpatrickModel #Level1Evaluation #Reaction #LearningAndDevelopment #PerformanceImprovement #BusinessImpact #ITTEC2025 #HRLeadership #HRStrategy #KirkpatrickReimagined #Training #ROI&ROE #WorkplaceLearning #BusinessTransformation #TalentDevelopment

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