Donald Kirkpatrick, the creator of the Kirkpatrick Model of instructional design—the worldwide standard for evaluating the effectiveness of training programs—recently announced his retirement from speaking engagements. Kirkpatrick, two decades beyond usual retirement age, plans to spend more time with his wife, family and friends.
A special, invitation only event honoring Kirkpatrick was held in conjunction with the ASTD International Conference and Exposition. On Sunday, May 22, 2011, many of Kirkpatrick’s friends, colleagues, and admirers gathered at Café Tu Tu Tango for the “Don Kirkpatrick's Retirement Celebration” Booz Allen Hamilton and Owl's Ledge LLC co-hosted the event.
It should be noted that it would have been impossible to gather everyone who Kirkpatrick befriended and/or affected throughout the years. Nevertheless, this gathering was well attended, with perhaps 100 people joining in to thank Kirkpatrick.
Among those able to attend were project management guru Lou Russell, noted author Elaine Biech, Games for Trainers author Ed Scannell, executive leadership consultant Howard Prager, and this Examiner.
The event was indeed celebratory and Kirkpatrick looked pleased with the honor done him. After a champagne toast, a special celebration cake was revealed. The cake had following inscription, “Thank you Donald Kirkpatrick. 50 years, 4 levels, one elegant model, … priceless.”
The Kirkpatrick model, The Four Levels of Evaluation, is the most respected evaluation model in the training field. It is so widely used that the phrases, “Level One,” “Level Two,“ Level Three,” and “Level Four” have become terminology used by almost everyone in the training field.
Kirkpatrick created the model in 1954 as the subject of his Ph.D. dissertation at the University of Wisconsin. The elegantly simple model has withstood the test of time with over 50 years of application.
In announcing his retirement, Kirkpatrick stated, ”I am so thankful for all of the people who have promoted and used the Kirkpatrick Four Levels over the last 50 years. Without this support they would certainly not be as widely used as they are today.”
Kirkpatrick’s son, Jim, and daughter-in-law, Wendy, will continue to carry on his work through Kirkpatrick Partners.
Thank you Donald Kirkpatrick for giving training professionals the ability to validate the results of training.
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