The Accidental Trainer: You Know Computers, So They Want You to Teach Everyone Else (Jossey-Bass Business & Management) [Paperback]

Elaine Weiss (Author)

Book Description

Series: Jossey-Bass Business & Management | Publication Date: October 7, 1996

The perfect bridge to assist the accidental trainer in moving from the panic of being asked to teach 'because you know the system so well' to the satisfaction of successful knowledge transfer. A must read.
--Suzy Johnson, Course Manager, AT&T

The Accidental Trainer is a practical guide for the multitude of computer experts who have fallen into the role of computer trainer accidentally. As the resident experts on the latest word processing programs or the newly installed sales tracking software, most people who train others to use computers have little or no training experience. With checklists, questionnaires, and other hands-on tools, this book provides anyone with tools to bridge the gap between people and technology to create computer training that is clear, concise, and effective.

You'll learn how to:

• Build bridges between people and computers
• Create a blueprint for computer training
• Assess the learners
• Check your training results

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A guide for helping the resident computer expert become the resident computer trainer. If you are making this transition, then The Accidental Trainer should be on your shelf." —Bill Coscarelli, director, Hewlett-Packard World Wide Testing Center

From the Back Cover

As the resident experts on the latest version of WordPerfect or the newly installed sales tracking software, most people who train others to use computers fall into the role accidentally. The Accidental Trainer is a practical guide for the multitude of "computer experts" who have made this unintentional leap.With checklists, questionnaires, and other hands-on tools, this book provides anyone?from secretary to data entry clerk to MIS analyst? with tools to bridge the gap between people and technology and create computer training that is clear, concise, and effective.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Pfeiffer; 1st edition (October 7, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787902934
• ISBN-13: 978-0787902933
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,127,086 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential handbook for anyone who teaches computer skills, December 21, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Accidental Trainer: You Know Computers, So They Want You to Teach Everyone Else (Jossey-Bass Business & Management) (Paperback)

Ms. Weiss has incorporated her knowledge of adult learning theory to craft a succinctly written, straightforward manual for trainers. As a physician who teaches very resistant adults new computer skills, I found her case studies amusing, yet realistic. The book reads easily, there are wonderful illustrations and very little computerese. The chapter headings and summaries show a recusive use of the learning theories' application to the books own internal structure. No one should teach computer skills without reading this book. Upon finishing the book, I know it immediately "saved" one class I had prepared from certain ignominy.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical, clear, concise overview of training, August 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Accidental Trainer: You Know Computers, So They Want You to Teach Everyone Else (Jossey-Bass Business & Management) (Paperback)

This book is a great addition to my personal library. It was easy to read, yet practical and informative. Weiss provides an overview of training technology and terminology that is easy to follow and incorporate into your own training situations. I would recommend this book as a guide for all levels of trainers, and all types of trainers, computer trainers and others.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For all 'Accidental' trainers, December 17, 2007

By 

Michael McKee "mystic cowboy" (Port Townsend, WA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Accidental Trainer: You Know Computers, So They Want You to Teach Everyone Else (Jossey-Bass Business & Management) (Paperback)

You know the story. You have more computer skills that anybody in the office and get corralled into doing some training. "OMG, what do I do now," you think?

Don't panic. Take a deep breath. Ask for more time to prepare and immediately order "The Accidental Trainer."

The book offers a solid grounding in training principles as well as preparing you for the inevitable learning bumps that you'll receive along the way. Read Accidental Trainer for a quick start and Telling Ain't Training for a more complete foundation. You'll do fine