Customer Reviews

Active Training: A Handbook of Techniques, Designs, Case Examples, and Tips (Active Training Series)

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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.

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.

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.

This book is an excellent supplement for teaching employee training and development as a course. I'd recommend combining it with Noe's text (Employee Training and Development) for a college or graduate level course on this subject. The book is also a good stand-alone reference for teaching aspects of active training to a firm's curriculum development staff.

I am using this book as a resource for my graduate level course. It was recommended by my professor and she was right. It's easy to read and understand- A step by step guide replete with useful examples. I recommend it highly.

I ordered this book last minute due to system error on the campus end and my book(s) were purchased all last minute. The book came before the date that was noted, which for me was a great thing. I have to say service was excellent and packing was perfect.

My book was so much cheaper than in my campus book store. It arrived quickly in new condition and I am so satisfied. I highly recommend this amazing seller.

GIAT means "give it a try"!! Is simply magnificient. The security of ordering, the speed of delivery and the packaging of ordered books are simply world-class.

For update differentiationn and innoovation in training concepts/methodologies, best to read Active Training. Its a compelling companion for effective trainers/coaches.

This book arrived in excellent condition. The book is easy to read with great examples.

Great book with plenty of practical comments and ideas which allow you to design a truly active session that both, your audience and you, will enjoy.