Customer Reviews

How To Be a Successful Technical Trainer: Core Skills for Instructor Certification

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a very useful book to help prepare for the CTT exam; and considering the fact that it isn't that expensive - I recommend it. However, be aware that it is only a helpful tool and not anywhere close to a complete or comprehensive study guide - although, as far as I know, this is the best thing available. That is because there is almost nothing else available. You can go out to the Comptia site and through them get official materials - however, these materials are EXTREMELY VAGUE & EXTREMELY SUBJECTIVE. In my mind, they really aren't worth getting; and I've had both the Competencies Booklet and their nearly useless Videotape.
This book weighs in at close to 400 pages, but it is a really quick read - even for a slow-poke reader like me. And the 2 authors break the book down to analyze the competencies in real human terms, as opposed to the vague generalities that fill the official booklet. They also provide lots of very helpful & useful observations that will help you as an instructor - even if they don't relate directly to the exam.
There are 2 shortfalls with this book however.
ONE, they have quite a number of practice questions in the book. But these will not prepare you in the least, for the real CTT written exam. Their questions are quite good; but way too straight-forward. The CTT exam is the most insane, subjective exam I've ever seen; and as a bootcamp instructor for nearly 3 years; I've taken close to 100 certification exams from about 8 different vendors. Their questions are a good start, but you need to go out to google and search on "CTT practice". I found 2 practice exams when I took this... Both of these practice question sets were wild & flakey; but they got me in the right frame of mind for the insanity that is the: "CTT written exam" - it was much crazier. And without seeing those practice questions, I would not have even scored 25%, let alone pass. There is a certain type of wrong /insane answer that you need to learn how to recognize in order to pass that test.
THE SECOND SHORTFALL WITH THIS BOOK IS THAT IT SAYS NOTHING TO HELP YOU WITH THE VIDEOTAPE YOU MUST SUBMIT AS THE 2ND STEP TOWARDS THE CTT Certification. It does reprint the CTT handbook that was current when the book was published, and that does contain references to the videotape you must prepare - but it is again, extremely vague. The official videotape that you can get through COMPtia, is likewise, extremely vague, and in my opinion
nearly worthless.
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Major computer hardware and software vendors such as Microsoft, Oracle, Sun, Cisco Systems, Adobe, Novell, and others demand competency in their instructors. Acceptable proof of competency is a Certified Technical Trainer (CTT) certification.

It's a multiple choice test, and as a holder of 2 Engineering degrees from the University of Illinois, extensive experience in Project Management, and being a Certified Toastmaster, I thought "How hard could this be?"

Frankly, its the toughest test I ever took. Whoever wrote it, was diabolical. And, I had prepared and prepared well. An essential --but not the only-- preparation was thoroughly reading this book and working ALL of the exercises twice.

The book is well organized, well written, includes good exercises, and clear instructions on how to apply for and take both the computer portion of the test, and the video tape submission. However, do not expect to pass the test after reading this book alone. Seek out practice exams, talk to others who have taken the test, and of course, actual class room experience should be part of your preparation.

I would have appreciated citations to additional preparation resources such as practice tests, and websites.

This is a competent book if a little dry. Make sure you read the subtitle before buying. It's more of a preparation for the Certified Technical Trainer exam than a general introduction to training in general. As a preparation manual for the CTT exam it seems to do the job. I'll find out soon.

This is the one and the only book dealing with technical trainer certification. Author has done a great job in covering comptencies and standards of Certfied Technical Trainer exam. The book is equally useful for all the technical trainers whether or not appearing in CTT+. The treatment of the subject of technical training is very simple and effective.

This book is a good additional reference when preparing for the CTT+ exam. It should really not be used as a stand-alone reference as the competencies have been updated and this version does not support the 2003 updated competencies. While a great supplement, it should be used in conjunction with the "Instructor Competencies: Standards for Face-to-Face, Online ad Blended Settings". There are also many test simulators available online, which have proven to be very helpful in preparing for the exam. The questions at the end of the chapters in this book are not in any way similar to the actual test questions, so while a good review of the material, they are in no way a good prep for the actual exam. There are many typos in the book as well, particularly toward the latter part of the book.

This book went out to the middle east to help some of our folks get certified in CTT+ and worked.

made me a better trainer, altho not a great book for passing the CTT+ exam as I hoped

This book is wonderful, especially if you plan to get your CTT+ certification. I am reading it now for the second time. Too many other books on this subject cite rules and techniques without explanation. This book gives you the rules AND clear, actionable methods to follow them to achieve results in the classroom.