ABSTRACT
Summative evaluation is conducted to verify the effectiveness of instruction. It helps educators make informed decisions about whether to maintain currently used instructional systems, abandon them, or seek a new one that has the potential to meet their needs better. This chapter offers guidance for using the Kirkpatrick model for summative evaluation. The four levels of the model are: Level 1: reaction, Level 2: learning, Level 3: behavior, and Level 4: results. Participant reaction is conducted during or immediately after the instruction and is most often used for formative evaluation. However, it can also provide useful summative information from learners after sufficient formative evaluation has improved the quality of the instructional system. Field visits are a very effective method of conducting evaluations but are more expensive. They are normally conducted by an evaluator, often assisted by an instructional designer or instructor.
