Use of Kirkpatrick evaluation model in simulation-based trainings for the mining industry - A case study for froth flotation

Abstract

Trainings play a vital role in the transference of knowledge between skilled and novice operators in the mineral industry. Evaluation is an important part of those trainings, but many trainings rely solely on the trainees’ feedback. This paper presents how technology enhancement can help produce more effective training evaluations to the mineral industry. It describes a case study involving a froth flotation simulator-based training, including details of the simulation, user interface, and the training program. The training was delivered to sixteen mining operators and evaluated by both the traditional method (trainee’s feedback) and with the simulation’s learning evaluation. The feedback evaluation showed a high level of satisfaction with the learning results, while the learning evaluation showed a very different training outcome, putting established evaluation methods such as Kirckpatrick’s “Four levels” into question. Correlations between the learning results and the operators’ personal information such as process work, and academic experience are also presented.