Active Training

Acknowledgments xi Preface xiii The Goals of This Book xiv How This Book Is Organized xv PART ONE INTRODUCING ACTIVE TRAINING 1 The Nature of Adult Learning 2 The Social Side of Learning 6 Concerns About Active Training 7 The Delivery of Active Training 10 PART TWO DESIGNING AN ACTIVE TRAINING PROGRAM 13 Steps for Designing Active Training 15 What's in the Part Two Chapters? 17 Chapter One Assessing Training Needs 19 Why Do Assessment? 20 What Information Should Be Collected? 23 How Can Information Be Collected? 29 What If There Is No Time to Do a Proper Assessment? 38 Chapter Two Developing Active Training Objectives 41 Setting Learning Goals 42 Selecting Objectives 44 Specifying Objectives 47 Expressing Objectives 48 Communicating Training Objectives to Others 49 Chapter Three Creating Opening Exercises 53 What Opening Exercises Accomplish 53 What to Keep in Mind When Creating Opening Exercises 67 Ten Ways to Open an Active Online Virtual Training Session 68 Ten Ways to Obtain Participation 69 Chapter Four Preparing Brain-Friendly Presentations 75 Five Ways to Gain Your Audience's Interest 75 Five Ways to Maximize Understanding and Retention 82 Five Ways to Involve Participants During a Presentation 88 Five Ways to Reinforce Presentations 94 An Example of a Well-Designed Presentation 99 Chapter Five Finding Alternative Methods to Presenting 103 Demonstration 103 Case Study 105 Guided Teaching 109 Group Inquiry 110 Information Search 113 Study Group 115 Jigsaw Learning 118 Learning Tournament 121 Applying the Alternatives to a Common Topic 123 Chapter Six Using Experiential Learning Approaches 129 Role Playing 130 Games and Simulations 139 Observation 144 Mental Imagery 148 Writing Tasks 152 Action Learning 155 Chapter Seven Designing Active Training Activities 165 The Three Major Ingredients of Any Design 165 Basic Questions About Any Design 169 The Remaining Details 170 Three Tips for Creative Designs 172 Chapter Eight Sequencing Active Training Activities 177 Basic Sequencing Guidelines 178 Applying Sequencing Guidelines 181 The Finer Side of Sequencing 188 Experiential Learning Sequences 193 Chapter Nine Planning Active Training Programs 199 The Macrodesign of an Active Training Program 199 Chapter Ten Incorporating Active Learning in All Training 207 Asynchronous E-Learning 208 Group-Based E-Learning 212 Virtual Classrooms 216 Blended Learning 218 Social Media Expands Active Training and Development 220 M-Learning Offers Instant Options 223 PART THREE CONDUCTING AN ACTIVE TRAINING PROGRAM 229 Chapter Eleven Beginning an Active Training Program 233 Preparing Yourself Mentally 233 Arranging the Physical Environment 236 Greeting Participants and Establishing Rapport 242 Getting the Best from the First Thirty Minutes of Training 245 Reviewing the Agenda 246 Inviting Feedback to the Agenda 248 Chapter Twelve Gaining Leadership of the Group 253 Setting Group Norms 253 Controlling Timing and Pacing 255 Increasing Receptivity to Your Leadership 257 Handling Problem Situations 258 Chapter Thirteen Giving Presentations and Leading Discussions 267 Knowing Your Group 267 Organizing Your Presentation 271 Watching Your Body Language 273 Adding Visuals 275 Making Smooth Transitions 277 Facilitating a Lively Discussion 279 Chapter Fourteen Facilitating Structured Activities and Promoting Team Learning 287 Structured Activities 87 Team Learning 298 Chapter Fifteen Concluding an Active Training Program 307 Reviewing Program Content 307 Obtaining Final Questions and Concerns 309 Promoting Self-Assessment 312 Focusing on Back-on-the-Job Application 315 Expressing Final Sentiments 316 PART FOUR EXTENDING THE VALUE OF AN ACTIVE TRAINING PROGRAM 319 Chapter Sixteen Providing for Back-on-the-Job Application 321 Prior to the Training Program 321 During the Training Program 323 At the End of the Training Program 324 Obstacle Assessment 328 Peer Consultation 329 Self-Monitoring 330 Follow-Up Coaching and Support 340 Chapter Seventeen Evaluating an Active Training Program 343 Expanding the Four Evaluation Levels 344 Designing Evaluations 354 Obtain Feedback Along the Way 355 PART FIVE THE EVOLVING ROLE OF TRAINERS 359 Chapter Eighteen Expanded Roles for Trainers 361 Onboarding 362 Leading Change 364 Coaching Managers 367 Mentoring Programs 368 Internal Consulting 371 Building Teams 373 Chapter Nineteen New Business Realities for Trainers 379 Doing More with Less 380 Globalization 382 Working with Multigenerational Workforces 384 Working with the C-Suite 386 Vendor Management 388 Working with Subject Matter Experts 390 We've Reached the End--Or Is It the Beginning? 391 References 395 About the Authors 399 Index 401