Active Training: A Handbook of Techniques, Designs, Case Examples, and Tips [Hardcover]

Mel Silberman (Author), Carol Auerbach (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0787939897 | ISBN-13: 978-0787939892 | Publication Date: May 27, 1998 | Edition: 2

It?s here! An all-new edition of the handbook that started the active training revolution.

You'll learn how to:
* Assess training needs and participants
* Develop active training objectives
* Create practical opening exercises
* Prepare effective lectures
* Design active training exercises
* Provide for back-on-the-job application . . . and much more!

Silberman is synonymous with active training. Thousands upon thousands of trainers look to Silberman for sage advice on teaching adults the way they learn best: by doing.

Now Silberman presents an all-new edition of his runaway bestseller, Active Training. This handbook shows you how to design and conduct experiential programs in private and public sector organizations from beginning to end. Silberman has augmented the first edition, with a wealth of new training exercises and updated case studies, along with information on emerging training technologies and ways to substantiate the ROI of training. Plus, a new section entitled Introducing Active Training explores in greater depth the reasons why adults learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process.

You get over 200 real-life designs and case examples distributed over 35 subject areas including:
* coaching
* communication skills
* team building
* performance appraisals
* customer service
* problem solving
* time management
* leadership . . . and much more!

The index to the case studies enables you to find a training example that suits your current need. Checklists and assessments reinforce training topics and enable you to plan for action.

I'm 'Gung Ho!' about Active Training. All trainers should find it a valuable reading experience. It is loaded with sound concepts and practical ideas.
--Ken Blanchard, co-author, The One Minute Manager and Gung Ho!

Within the covers of this book is all the material you need to make a course or seminar a success. Silberman?s guidebook is loaded with practical, original training tips and a whole host of ways to incorporate these ideas into your training. Experience the second edition of this training classic and you'll never face an audience the same way again. Active training starts here!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Since its initial publication, Active Training has become a classic book in the field of training and development.  It remains a must-read for anyone who wants training to be effective and engaging."
--Sivasailam “Thiagi” Thiagarajan, author, Design Your Own Games and Activities; president, International Society for Performance Improvement

"Active Training is a one volume "encyclopedia" full of the soundest concepts and practical ideas for applied adult learning you can find. No professional involved in learning, development or workplace performance should be without it."
--Ed Betof Ed.D., vice president, Talent Management and chief learning officer, Becton Dickinson

"Active Training has been required reading for all our students since 1992.  They refer their managers and staffs to it often to help change the way their organizations view and conduct training.  Of all of the books required in the program, this is the one they cite as the most valuable!"
--Brenda S. Levya-Gardner, Ph.D. director, executive HRD graduate program, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio

"The third edition of Active Training continues its rich tradition of weaving theory with best practice that works so well for university classrooms as well as business contexts.  Especially welcome is the expanded content on e-learning!  I am confident that our students will be thrilled with new edition of Active Training."
--John A. Sample, Ph.D., program coordinator, Adult Education and Human Resource Development, Florida State University

From the Inside Flap

Since 1990, Mel Silberman's classic book, Active Training, has been a runaway best-seller for trainers at all levels and a popular text for university??level courses in adult education and training. The active training method—which turns the spotlight away from the instructor and puts the emphasis on the learner—has emerged over time as a proven and reliable method for enhancing involvement, learning, and change.

The third edition of Active Training, provides a thorough introduction to the core principles of active training design and delivery, and includes a wealth of examples, tips, and techniques. The book has been revised to reflect the latest trends in workforce training and key sections, such as assessment and evaluation, have been thoroughly updated. In addition, a completely new chapter has been included to cover the design of active training for e-learning and online applications.

Active Training will show you how to

• Assess training needs and participants
• Develop active training objectives
• Create practical opening activities
• Prepare brain-friendly lectures
• Design active training exercises
• Create e-learning applications
• Provide for back-on-the-job application . . . and much more!

Fasten your seat belts, this is no passive read. The book is filled with real-world cases, sample exercises to complete and try out, and hundreds of practical tips and techniques guaranteed to improve any training program.

This new edition includes a supplementary instructor's guide that is available at no charge from Pfeiffer.com.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Pfeiffer; 2 edition (May 27, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787939897
• ISBN-13: 978-0787939892
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #814,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Many good ideas on how to make your training more active, August 4, 1999

By 

Gary Lim ([e-mail] (Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Active Training: A Handbook of Techniques, Designs, Case Examples, and Tips (Hardcover)

This book has many good ideas on how to make your training more active. For example, it give one ideas on how to turn a mundane one-way lecture into a lively interactive discussion so that the participants not only enjoy the learning, but retain and use the knowledge gained. In addition, there are many activities that a trainer can use to make his or her training more lively. I strongly recommend this book to all trainers.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Activate Your Training, October 7, 2006

By 

Keith E. Webb "Cross-Cultural Leadership Coac... (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Active Training: A Handbook of Techniques, Designs, Case Examples, and Tips (Active Training Series) (Hardcover)

Mel Silberman is the master of active training. Just skimming his book gave me a handful of new ideas I applied to my training. Reading the book helped me to revamp my training courses to include many more participatory training exercises.

Everybody loves being involved, talking, interacting, and exploring during training. Lecture, however, is too often the default methodology. In some ways lecture takes less time to prepare and is less risky, but is it more effective learning? In this day and age, linear, slow, from-up-front training just isn't effective. Instead, shift over to active training that engages and empowers participants to learn rather than be taught. I'm reminded of Winston Churchill when he said, "I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught."

Silberman gives idea after idea of how to spice up lectures, or better yet, replace them with other a dozen other learning methods that actively involve the participant. The 100+ exercises and examples in Active Training makes it easy to incorporate non-cheesy learning activities that really work.

Wake up your participants! Get active.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb book, October 3, 2011

By 

Mr. Stephen J. Desmond (Leicester, East Midlands United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Active Training: A Handbook of Techniques, Designs, Case Examples, and Tips (Active Training Series) (Hardcover)

There are other books which provide numerous examples of participatory exercises during training days but fail completely to explain the value and relevance of the activities they promote.

Mel Silberman's Active Training (3rd. ed.) does the opposite. The author clearly explains the benefits and reasons for using the many useful techniques supplied. No wonder this book has several glowing reviews on Amazon.com.

I have selected below a number of aspects of this book that I found especially useful to my own seminars. These are -

1) Setting learning goals, specifying objectives, communicating those objectives to others

2) The critical question for designing the content and structure of a training program

3) The 3 key goals and types of opening exercises

4) 10 ways to obtain participation

5) Chapter 4 (Preparing brain-friendly lectures) is superb and particularly relevant to seminar leaders who deliver complex and technical material to a professional audience. The range of tips and activities to enliven a lecture style format is very impressive.

6) The 3 major ingredients of designing a training program

7) Chapter 8 on sequencing training activities is excellent in its focus on ensuring that the program does not randomly comprise a
string of exercises and that instead the activities are weaved together to maximise the effectiveness of the event.

8) Chapter 9 which focuses on 5 types of activities that can be used at the appropriate stage of the seminar

9) Chapter 12 on gaining leadership of the training group, especially the parts on setting group norms, and increasing receptivity to your leadership

10) Making smooth transitions and linkages between the various stages of the event, and facilitating lively discussion

11) Chapter 14 is very good on facilitating structured activities and on how to avoid 5 common mistakes

12) How to close the training program by reviewing program content and how to encourage delegates to prepare for applying skills learned after the event

13) Chapter 17 on evaluating a training program, and the importance of obtaining feedback during the event, not just at the end. The elaboration of Kirkpatrick's 4 levels of evaluation is also very useful.