In our October update, we've been working to add new diagnostic features across the Producer Suite and Academy. In this post, we look at the ways that you can get more from our diagnostic tools, and offer a look at how we use diagnostics internally to get the best results from our learning programs. 

What is a diagnostic?

A diagnostic is a benchmarking assessment used to quantitatively measure a learner on a series of dimensions or indicators. Often conducted before starting a learning program, diagnostics help identify a learner's strengths, weaknesses, knowledge and skills so that the learning can be adjusted to their needs and give the learner the opportunity to self-reflect on their development

What are their benefits?

Well-designed diagnostic assessments capture the data required to personalise content that addresses the learner's specific needs. 

Personalisation

Not requiring the learner to undertake learning that they have already demonstrated competence in and instead focussing learning on their identified areas of development will keep the learner interested and engaged by presenting new knowledge and developing new skills rather than revising content that they have already consolidated.  

Measure and monitor learning effectiveness

Using the same diagnostic assessment pre- and post-learning can identify the effectiveness of the learning program and provide insight into learner performance by comparing their results before and after the training. This can also help identify areas for future adjustment within the learning material, ensuring that you get the best results from your learning programs.

Manager-Led Coaching & Action Plans

Diagnostic assessment results aren't only helpful in personalising digital experiences. The same concept works for manager/coach relationships in the workplace. Understanding an employee's capabilities and needs will give a manager or coach the insight to ensure they guide their employee to achieve their full potential and maximise their job satisfaction. Creating action plans outlining strengths and weaknesses that need addressing helps keep a learner on track and motivated, especially when aligned with ongoing coaching.

How do we use diagnostics at Guroo?

Producer 

Personalised Learning Plans

Personalised Learning Plans are a type of digital learning experience offered in the Producer Suite and are used to drive personalisation through diagnostic assessments. Mapping diagnostic indicator outcomes to targeted learning bites allows for topics identified as areas of development to be set as required learning tasks. Areas of demonstrated competency can either be made available to the learner or hidden from their personalised learning journey.

Academy

Adaptive Learning Pathways

Academy is an upskilling platform with a native diagnostic assessment capability that also drives personalisation based on indicator outcomes. Due to Academy's ability to deliver larger learning programs that may run for days or weeks, personalisation can shape a student's learning journey on a much more individualized level and have an enhanced impact.

Learner, Coach, Together Diagnostics

Academy allows a learner's manager/coach to be involved in their learning journey. The Learner, Coach, Together diagnostic workflow allows both the learner and coach to undertake a diagnostic assessment of where they believe the learner's current capabilities lie. After both parties have completed the diagnostic assessment, the pair retake the assessment together and agree on areas for development, and can create a specific and personalised exportable action plan.

Make informed decisions based on Learner Analytics

The Producer Suite's Analytics and Academy's built-in diagnostic reports provide in-depth insights into diagnostic outcomes and learner capability, allowing stakeholders to make informed decisions about the effectiveness of the learning and learner performance.

Tips for successful diagnostics

• First, define the learning outcomes and backward map to set diagnostic indicators.
• Ensure questions are straightforward and directly target the learner's current capability by identifying their strengths and areas for improvement.
• Diagnostic assessments should be non-graded and positioned as a reflective activity.
• Consider how to drive personalisation. What will the learner experience be for areas identified as strengths? Will those areas of learning be marked as required, optional, or hidden from the learner entirely?
• Use the same diagnostic before and after the learning to measure learner growth.
• Utilise the data from the assessments to make informed decisions about future learning.