Customer Reviews

Telling Ain't Training

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This excellent book by Harold D. Stolovitch and Erica J. Keeps - researchers and consultants in workplace learning and performance - emphasizes making training fun and interactive. While their basic learning principles will be familiar to those in the field, they enliven their book with examples, exercises and research. The authors distinguish among training, instruction and education. They note the differences among various types of knowledge. Then, they explain the major factors that motivate people to learn and show how to apply these principles in hands-on teaching situations. Charts, illustrations, quizzes, and short chapter summaries enrich the book. We believe that even professionals already familiar with the field will enjoy this refreshing and lively look at how to help people learn. And if you are hiring trainers, this is what they should know.

Finally a book about training that uses training principles to deliver its message!

Stolovitch and Keeps little masterpiece "Telling Ain't Training", incorporates a variety of adult learning principles throughout the book like:

* telling the learner the benefit of the training,
* taking into account the different experiences of the learners,
* making sure the learner is actively involved and particpating in the learning, and
* leading the learner to action.

The reader/learner is led systematically to an realization of why transmitting (telling) information doesn't work as well as transforming (including practice and feedback) the learner. The reader/learner's active involvement is ensured through constant examples, analogies and activities that are fun and always to the point.

As someone who both develops and delivers training programs, I found this book to be highly informative (it discusses the current research in learning and development), extremely well focussed and ultimately very useful. I have already incorporated at least 5 of the book's wonderful little nuggets into my training and development activities.

I highly recommend this book

I have read a lot of books recently to increase my work knowledge, and I have to say that this book was the easiest and most fun to read. The writers have done an excellent job getting the reader involved, which increases the amount of information one is able to remember. This book is a real pionner in how to write educative books. Oh, yea, and the content was outstanding!

It is rare to find a book written by an expert that isn't made for is fellows specialists. And most of the time, less specialized books misses the point by leaving behind huge chunks of knowledge.

We are here in front of two great authors and they know how to use synthesis. They have been able to put together the essence of their skills in words that makes it readable for every interested mind. The result is a complete book, with no missing part. It will become a reference to those who want to have the full picture. The newcomer and the addict will use it often.

M. Stolovitch and Mme Keeps use a "discussion" mode to cover theme like: adult learning, course creating techniques, training approaches and evaluation. They keep the interest of the reader with exercises, questions and tests. To read the book is to have a talk with them.

But the part that is to most satisfying is the one on training myth. At last a very good text on what works and why!! You should buy the book just for that chapter. I keep reading "Telling ain't training" just to feel that what I do is fine and that I am not alone fighting for a just cause.

Stolovitch gets to the heart of training--changing the behavior of the trainees. Whether you are giving a short speech or conducting a three day training session, Stolovitch shows how simply dumping facts (what everybody does) is never effective. This message can not be said enough.

Great book!! Any body in the training field should get a copy. Herald Stolovitch and Erica Keeps keep the reader involved throughout the entire book with constant examples and activities that are very interesting and fun. I am in the US military and training is constant in my job. Techniques are drawn out and easy to understand, making it easy for anybody to comprehend and transfer to their own training. The use of the five step training model really sets up how a training session should be held. I will use this book over and over again in the development of my professional training career.

Telling Ain't Training is a 'must read' for performance consultants, trainers, teachers and university lecturers for the following reasons:
1. The knowledge contained within it is derived from good research.
2. The five step model for creating training sessions is simple, effective, and has been validated many times over.
3. The writing is clear and concise, with many examples provided to bring the content to life.
4. The book is structured in a way which follows the adult learning principles Stolovitch and Keeps advocate.
5. It's fun to read.
If you facilitate the learning of others, you will definitely learn something new and valuable that you will be able to incorporate into your work, benefiting you and most importantly your learners.
Check this important book out.

This book is a must for anyone concerned with the development and/or delivery of training. Whether you are a novice or have many years of experience in the field, the book has a lot to offer. The content is presented in a fun, easy to follow, practical manner. Harold and Erica follow what they preach -- the book is interactive throughout. I read the book from cover to cover, and will use it as a reference while developing training materials in the future.

Harold and Erica have created an excellent job aid for people in the training business. I have used the Five step model to help "retrofit" existing training we had developed and it was just what we needed to focus our efforts. The other topics in the book provide thought starters and useful models. It is easy to find and read topics of interest in this brief and appealing format.

This book is a perfect blend of theory and practical application in a compact package. Small enough to slide in a purse or briefcase, so you can take it with you when you need to brush up. Love it!!!