Why measure learning?
The easy answer is to track learner progress. The subtler, more powerful answer is to drive learner behavior.
Dan Ariely, behavioral scientist and best-selling author of Predictably Irrational, discovered firsthand how much a measurement strategy can change how we act:
“At MIT, I was measured on my ability to handle my yearly teaching load, using a complex equation of teaching points. The rating, devised to track performance on a variety of dimensions, quickly became an end in itself. Even though I enjoyed teaching, I found myself spending less time with students because I could earn more points doing other things. I began to scrutinize opportunities according to how many points were at stake.”
Tags: Development • Learn Better