The Creative Trainer: Holistic Facilitation Skills for Accelerated Learning [Paperback]

Michael Lawlor (Author), Peter Handley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1997 | Series: McGraw-Hill Training Series

This text presents various approaches to training people within organizations. It discusses recent discoveries on how the two hemispheres of the brain operate, and provides guidelines for trainers on how to use their ideas and techniques to empower training programmes.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Creative Trainer will show new and creative approaches to training people within organizations. It is based on the principles of Accelerated Learning, previously applied to language learning. Full of unusual and innovative methods for immediate use, this book will enable trainers to make their courses more enjoyable and successful. It discusses the recent discoveries on how the two hemispheres of the brain operate, guiding trainers on how to use their ideas and techniques to enrich and empower their training programmes, as well as including guidance on putting ideas into practice. Contains case studies, both real and fictional, to illustrate how and why the theories work, together with mind maps and cartoons; Shows how to create an environment to inspire optimum learning; Explains how a balance can be achieved between relaxation and high energy in the classroom using the body--mind link.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies (July 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0077090306
• ISBN-13: 978-0077090302
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,493,806 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Unrealised promises, January 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Creative Trainer: Holistic Facilitation Skills for Accelerated Learning (Paperback)

Given the pedigrees of the *two* authors (Peter Handley and the Michael Lawlor) this book *should* have been an absolute knockout. But it isn't.

Each chapter starts with a short extract from the hypothetical introduction of AL training into a mythical pottery manufacturer - Glospot Ltd. - designed as an intro to the subject matter of the chapter. I personally found these pieces too short and poorly written (especially the dialogue), and eventually came to dread facing yet another piece of stilted and (in my perception) vaguely patronising prose.

The main text is primarily concerned with Accelerated Learning (about which both authors obviously know a great deal), with occasional references to NLP, about which they seem to *understand* considerably less (the description of 'anchoring' on page 123 verges on the ludicrous).

To my mind the key paragraph in the whole book is to be found on page 132:

"There are a number of other memory techniques which can be useful when studying. These include the 'Loci System', the 'Chain of Links', the 'T for I' system, and creating sentences in which the initial letter of each word stands for words which are to be remembered. They are described in Michael Lawlor's book 'Inner Track Learning'.

Maybe it's just me, but I strongly object to this practice. I believe the authors should describe the techniques, or not mention them at all - certainly not as an advert for another book by the same author.

I was equally non-plussed by the choice of the HBDI (Hermann Brain Dominance Instrument) as the preferred tool for determining someone's learning (Chapter 8). The HBDI is a very closely guarded product and (according to the text) only the staff of the Ned Hermann Group(UK) are authorised to score the questionnaires, at £35 each. That's nearly enough to purchase the highly successful Honey and Mumford Learning Styles Manual, complete with questionnaire and scoring details and a licence for *unlimited* personal use.

Both of the authors have long since founded their own training establishments, and I couldn't help feeling that this book might have been a whole lot richer and more detailed in it's descriptions of the various techniques if the authors hadn't had to deal with this apparent conflict of interest.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A glimpse into the methods of truly great trainers., January 2, 1999

By 

Debra France ([e-mail]) (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Creative Trainer: Holistic Facilitation Skills for Accelerated Learning (Paperback)

When I found myself purchasing multiple copies of "The Creative Trainer" this holiday for bright young students who have a passion for training, I knew this book deserved a review. I have discovered the healing benefits of Accelerated Learning and NLP applied to corporate training for several years, and this is the best review and application of those techniques that I have found. Its attributes include: Well organized, easy to read, extremely useful reference section, and a score of brief introductions to the valuable tools and techniques it could take years to discover on your own. An important addition to academic books on the topics of instructional design and delivery and a useful introduction to tools used by outstanding trainers and consultants in organizations today.