How to evaluate Action Learning

The work of a set can be evaluated at several levels:

• Individual – progress on a problem and learning from it
• Set – collective achievement, group development and maturity
• Programme or organisational level – impact on the organisation as a whole, across all sets.

Self-evaluation is an important part of Action Learning. Self-awareness, combined with improving the ability to self-evaluate, can be an important outcome in itself.

A good final task for a set can be to carry out a more formal evaluation, such as interviewing stakeholders to assess how far their expectations have been met.

In the early stages, it can be good practice to use a review sheet to embed the evaluation habit.

Sample review sheet

Each person should spend five minutes reflecting individually on the work of the set, before sharing with fellow members. A review sheet should be created along the following lines:

My problem

The three key things I have learned about my problem today are:

1. ....................................................................................

2. ....................................................................................

3. ....................................................................................

Action

My action steps before the next meeting are:

........................................................................................

Other set members

The most interesting thing I have learned today about the problems facing other set members is:

........................................................................................

The set

The thing that stands out for me today in terms of the working of the set is:

........................................................................................

Myself

The one thing I have learned about myself today is:

........................................................................................