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By Frank Connolly
Director of Communications and Research, MindEdge Learning

Serious fans of rock and roll will probably know the answer to this trivia question: When they were just starting out, the Irish band now known as U2 went by what one-word name?

The answer, of course, is “Feedback”, a reference to one of the few technical terms that the fledgling rockers knew back then. The name didn’t last long, but the band certainly did—and within a few short years millions of fans were enjoying the sound of “Feedback” under their new name.

All of which is a convoluted way to make the point that we here at MindEdge are big fans of feedback, too. Comments from our learners, both positive and negative, help us work continuously to improve our courses and certificate programs. And so every six months or so, we pose a simple question to the MindEdge learning community: What sort of impact are our courses having on the lives and careers of our learners?

According to the findings of our most recent Learner Outcomes survey, the impact we’re having is an overwhelmingly positive one.

Between January 6 and January 26, 2021, we emailed learners who had taken a MindEdge or Skye Learning course in the last six months, and had given us permission to contact them about their online learning experience. More than 26 percent of those learners subsequently answered our survey on the SurveyMonkey platform. Here’s what they told us:

• 85 percent say their MindEdge learning experience had a positive effect on their professional life/career—up slightly from 84 percent in our June 2020 survey. There was a more noticeable increase in the proportion of learners who cite a very positive impact—this number bumped up five points, to 43 percent. And almost all of the remaining responses are neutral; only 2 percent say their online learning experience was negative.
• 85 percent of MindEdge and Skye learners say their online learning experience was helpful to them in performing their current job, up from 83 percent in June. Fully 49 percent say their experience was very helpful, a sharp jump from 37 percent in June. Only 2 percent say their course or certificate program was not helpful.
• Fully 78 percent of learners say their online learning experience was helpful to them in preparing for a future job, up from 69 percent in June. Close to half (48 percent) say their course or certificate program was very helpful—a big, 16-point increase compared to last June. Only 1 percent say their online experience was not helpful.
• Three-of-four (76 percent) MindEdge and Skye learners say their online learning experience had a positive effect on their personal life, up from 70 percent in June. The proportion of learners who cite a very positive impact is up seven points, to 43 percent. Only 1 percent offer a negative response to this question.

As was the case in our June survey, slightly more than three-of-five (63 percent) survey respondents are under the age of 50, while 36 percent are age 50 or older. Last June, responses were more intensely positive among learners under the age of 50, but that gap is noticeably smaller in the current survey.

These survey results offer clear testimony to the fact that MindEdge and Skye courses are meeting the needs of our learners, helping them move forward in their careers and in their lives. As a company, we are committed to maintaining and improving these positive ratings—but can we? Check back in about six months, to find out if the feedback from our next Learners Outcomes survey still sounds good.

To see MindEdge’s continuing education and professional development course selections, click here.

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