How to evaluate a plain language training course

You can judge plain language training in a similar way you would evaluate any professional service.

Consider the three dimensions:
cost, time, quality.

Calculating cost

Usually, cost is the simplest dimension to evaluate. There are two components to consider: direct costs and opportunity costs.

Direct costs of plain language training

The training provider will charge to develop and deliver the course. They may have an additional charge for materials (like workbooks), or to tailor the course for your organisation, or to review existing documents before running the course.

Also include the cost of the venue and any refreshments you provide.

Of course, calculate the total cost and divide by the number of participants. A larger group size results in a lower per participant cost.

Opportunity cost of plain language training

This is the cost to the organisation of diverting people from their normal duties to allow them to participate in a training course. Include any pre-work and post-work, as well as the time participants will be in the training sessions.

Shorter duration courses have a lower opportunity cost.

Considering time

There are three dimensions to consider:

  • the time taken to deliver the course
  • the timing structure of the course
  • the time it takes to implement the content

Time taken to deliver the course

This is related to the opportunity cost. Consider how long it takes to deliver the course. How many hours will your people be tied up in training? Of course, longer courses remove people from their regular tasks for longer, and so have a greater impact on the organisation’s deliverables.

Timing structure

Consider whether the course can be delivered in a way that minimises the impact on the organisation. Can it match the flexibility you have given your workers?

For example, can it be delivered in a pattern that caters for both workers who work a full day, and those that work shorter days – part time workers.

Can a full day course be delivered over 2 half days to minimise impact on workers?

Can the learning program be spread over a few weeks? This course structure can provide learners with valuable ‘soak time’ to reflect on the content.

Time to implement content

The aim of any training program is to impact practices in the workplace. A plain language course that provides ideas that can be implemented immediately is more valuable than one that takes weeks to develop skills.

Judging quality

Quality is the most important dimension to consider and perhaps the hardest to judge.

Here’s a few suggestions to help judge a course offering:

  • The course should convey broader plain language principles, not just plain English writing techniques. Artificial Intelligence apps can easily replicate basic writing skills like selecting familiar words, using the active voice, writing simple sentences and the like.
  • The course should include practical examples to learn from. Some theory is necessary, but applying the ideas to real documents is essential.
  • The course should provide guidance and a process that learners can replicate. Just being shown good examples is not enough – in a worst case scenario this becomes merely a trainer showing off!Skills need to be transferred, not just demonstrated.
  • The trainer should be a competent and experienced plain language practitioner. Training delivered by practitioners provides a depth of knowledge that may be missing if a course is developed from a purely academic perspective.
  • There should be some program or offering to consolidate learning over the longer term. A day of training will not change the habits of a lifetime. We all need constant reminders of plain language ideas and prompts so that we regularly include plain language in our daily work.