Abstract:

Distance education has been regarded as a valuable mode of delivery, particularly due to its ability to promote access and lifelong learning. However, evidence from literature shows that few studies deal with evaluating the effectiveness of such programmes, or the justification for continuing to develop their quality. Various models have been developed to evaluate training. The oldest and most widely researched of these is that of Kirkpatrick, which was developed in the 1950s. Many scholars have criticised this model and have developed diverse variations that can be traced back to the initial work of Kirkpatrick. In a previous study, one of the researchers conducted a pilot study in which she evaluated the Advanced Certificate in Education: Education Management (ACE:EM) programme, which is delivered through the distance mode by a university. Initial findings – using this model –revealed a strong relationship between graduates’ completion of the programme and their performance in the workplace. However, the Kirkpatrick Model does not probe factors that impede transfer of learning. In an attempt to investigate this further, the researchers fused Baldwin’s Transfer of Training Model with the second level of Kirkpatrick’s Model. It emerged that the organisational climate of schools has a strong influence on the transfer of learning by distance education graduates in their workplace. This is in view of the fact that a global mindset shift is being encouraged in the field of management. The researchers argue that it is important that school managers view teachers’ additional qualifications as an asset to be exploited to boost their own managerial functions. It is nevertheless hoped that the school leadership programme, which is targeted at school principals in South Africa, will help to alleviate this challenge. This will be the focus of another study.

Keywords:

Distance education, program evaluation, transfer of training, Kirkpatrick program evaluation model, Baldwin Transfer of Training model, midset shift.