Training the Active Training Way
8 Strategies to Spark Learning and Change
Active Training Series
1. Edition March 2006
204 Pages, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBN:
978-0-7879-7613-2
John Wiley & Sons
Training expert Mel Silberman is the father of the popular and effective active training method. In his landmark textbook, Active Training, he identified the specific characteristics of the active training method that results in deeper learning and improved retention. Now, Training the Active Training Way takes the next step by distilling the active training method into eight core strategies that trainers can use to craft interactive and engaging training, even for the most challenging training assignments such as technical skills training, and information-rich (and often dull) content.
Acknowledgments.
Introduction.
STRATEGY 1: ENGAGE YOUR PARTICIPANTS FROM THE START.
Tip 1: Give Participants Something to Do Before the Session
Formally Begins.
Tip 2: Structure the Initial Social Interactions Among
Participants.
Tip 3: Create Icebreakers That Focus Solely on Immediate
Learning Involvement.
Tip 4: Enlarge the Pool of Participation at the Very
Beginning.
STRATEGY 2: BE A BRAIN-FRIENDLY PRESENTER.
Tip 5: Build Brain Interest in What Is Being Presented.
Tip 6: Help Your Participants' Brains to "Get
It".
Tip 7: Involve Participants Throughout Your Presentation.
Tip 8: Help Participants "Save" the Presentation in
Their Brains.
STRATEGY 3: ENCOURAGE LIVELY AND FOCUSED DISCUSSION.
Tip 9: Engage Participants Before Plunging into the
Discussion.
Tip 10: State Effective Questions for Discussion.
Tip 11: Improve the Quality of Discussion Through Participant
Preparation.
Tip 12: Alter the Discussion Format.
Tip 13: Facilitate the Flow of Conversation.
STRATEGY 4: URGE PARTICIPANTS TO ASK QUESTIONS.
Tip 14: Help Participants Get Started.
Tip 15: Create the Need for Questions.
Tip 16: Let Participants Know You Expect Questions.
STRATEGY 5: LET YOUR PARTICIPANTS LEARN FROM EACH
OTHER.
Tip 17: Choose How You Compose Learning Teams.
Tip 18: Build Learning Teams Before Giving Them Work.
Tip 19: Gradually Immerse Participants in Team Learning.
Tip 20: Use a Variety of Team Learning Activities.
Tip 21: Invite Participants to Teach Each Other.
STRATEGY 6: ENHANCE LEARNING BY EXPERIENCING AND
DOING.
Tip 22: Create Experiences That Simulate or Match Reality.
Tip 23: Ask Participants to Reflect on the Experience.
Tip 24: Avoid "Monkey See, Monkey Do".
Tip 25: Use Role Play to Develop Verbal Skills.
STRATEGY 7: BLEND IN TECHNOLOGY WISELY.
Tip 26: Transform Active Classroom Strategies into
e-Learning.
Tip 27: Use e-Learning to Supplement Classroom Learning.
Tip 28: Use Classroom Sessions to Supplement e-Learning
Activities.
STRATEGY 8: MAKE THE END UNFORGETTABLE.
Tip 29: Get Participants to Review What's Been
Learned.
Tip 30: Ask Participants to Evaluate Their Accomplishments.
Tip 31: Have Participants Plan for the Future.
Tip 32: Let Participants Celebrate the End.
FINAL ADVICE.
About the Author.
Pfeiffer Publications Guide.
Introduction.
STRATEGY 1: ENGAGE YOUR PARTICIPANTS FROM THE START.
Tip 1: Give Participants Something to Do Before the Session
Formally Begins.
Tip 2: Structure the Initial Social Interactions Among
Participants.
Tip 3: Create Icebreakers That Focus Solely on Immediate
Learning Involvement.
Tip 4: Enlarge the Pool of Participation at the Very
Beginning.
STRATEGY 2: BE A BRAIN-FRIENDLY PRESENTER.
Tip 5: Build Brain Interest in What Is Being Presented.
Tip 6: Help Your Participants' Brains to "Get
It".
Tip 7: Involve Participants Throughout Your Presentation.
Tip 8: Help Participants "Save" the Presentation in
Their Brains.
STRATEGY 3: ENCOURAGE LIVELY AND FOCUSED DISCUSSION.
Tip 9: Engage Participants Before Plunging into the
Discussion.
Tip 10: State Effective Questions for Discussion.
Tip 11: Improve the Quality of Discussion Through Participant
Preparation.
Tip 12: Alter the Discussion Format.
Tip 13: Facilitate the Flow of Conversation.
STRATEGY 4: URGE PARTICIPANTS TO ASK QUESTIONS.
Tip 14: Help Participants Get Started.
Tip 15: Create the Need for Questions.
Tip 16: Let Participants Know You Expect Questions.
STRATEGY 5: LET YOUR PARTICIPANTS LEARN FROM EACH
OTHER.
Tip 17: Choose How You Compose Learning Teams.
Tip 18: Build Learning Teams Before Giving Them Work.
Tip 19: Gradually Immerse Participants in Team Learning.
Tip 20: Use a Variety of Team Learning Activities.
Tip 21: Invite Participants to Teach Each Other.
STRATEGY 6: ENHANCE LEARNING BY EXPERIENCING AND
DOING.
Tip 22: Create Experiences That Simulate or Match Reality.
Tip 23: Ask Participants to Reflect on the Experience.
Tip 24: Avoid "Monkey See, Monkey Do".
Tip 25: Use Role Play to Develop Verbal Skills.
STRATEGY 7: BLEND IN TECHNOLOGY WISELY.
Tip 26: Transform Active Classroom Strategies into
e-Learning.
Tip 27: Use e-Learning to Supplement Classroom Learning.
Tip 28: Use Classroom Sessions to Supplement e-Learning
Activities.
STRATEGY 8: MAKE THE END UNFORGETTABLE.
Tip 29: Get Participants to Review What's Been
Learned.
Tip 30: Ask Participants to Evaluate Their Accomplishments.
Tip 31: Have Participants Plan for the Future.
Tip 32: Let Participants Celebrate the End.
FINAL ADVICE.
About the Author.
Pfeiffer Publications Guide.
"Wow! What a delightful, fun, easy-to-read-and-use book Training
the Active Training Way is. I learned, I enjoyed, and
have already put into practice several of Mel Silberman's
tips. If you want to be a great and successful trainer, dive
right into this volume...now!"
--Harold D. Stolovitch, emeritus professor, Université de
Montréal and author of Telling Ain't Training
"I thought I would read this book just long enough to write a
witty endorsement. An hour later I found myself in the middle of a
remarkable torrent of brilliant ideas, all delivered in a practical
and inspiring way. At some point I had changed and was reading
because I was convinced the book held great personal value to
me--it could help me be a better trainer. Mel's zest for
life and training comes through in this delightful, valuable book.
This compendium of ideas will inspire you to be a better trainer.
It inspired me!"
--Elaine Biech, president and managing principal, ebb associates
inc, author, Training for Dummies
the Active Training Way is. I learned, I enjoyed, and
have already put into practice several of Mel Silberman's
tips. If you want to be a great and successful trainer, dive
right into this volume...now!"
--Harold D. Stolovitch, emeritus professor, Université de
Montréal and author of Telling Ain't Training
"I thought I would read this book just long enough to write a
witty endorsement. An hour later I found myself in the middle of a
remarkable torrent of brilliant ideas, all delivered in a practical
and inspiring way. At some point I had changed and was reading
because I was convinced the book held great personal value to
me--it could help me be a better trainer. Mel's zest for
life and training comes through in this delightful, valuable book.
This compendium of ideas will inspire you to be a better trainer.
It inspired me!"
--Elaine Biech, president and managing principal, ebb associates
inc, author, Training for Dummies
Mel Silberman, Ph.D. is Professor of Adult and
Organizational Development at Temple University, where he received
its Great Teacher Award. He is also president of Active Training,
Princeton, NJ, a consulting firm that provides courses on active
training techniques, interpersonal intelligence, and team
facilitation.
Dr. Silberman is a graduate of Brandeis University and holds an
M.A. and Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of
Chicago. He is the author and editor of over 30 books, including
Active Training 2e (Pfeiffer, 1998), 101 Ways to
Make Training Active (Pfeiffer, 1998), and The
Consultant's Tool Kit (McGraw-Hill, 2002), and a regular
conference speaker for ASTD and ISPI.
Dr. Silberman has conducted training for hundreds of corporate,
governmental, educational, and human-service organizations. Among
his recent clients have been: Valero Refining Co., BMW of North
America, MGM Grand, New York University School of Dentistry, Merck,
Girl Scouts of the USA, and International Teachers of Business
Management Program.
Organizational Development at Temple University, where he received
its Great Teacher Award. He is also president of Active Training,
Princeton, NJ, a consulting firm that provides courses on active
training techniques, interpersonal intelligence, and team
facilitation.
Dr. Silberman is a graduate of Brandeis University and holds an
M.A. and Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of
Chicago. He is the author and editor of over 30 books, including
Active Training 2e (Pfeiffer, 1998), 101 Ways to
Make Training Active (Pfeiffer, 1998), and The
Consultant's Tool Kit (McGraw-Hill, 2002), and a regular
conference speaker for ASTD and ISPI.
Dr. Silberman has conducted training for hundreds of corporate,
governmental, educational, and human-service organizations. Among
his recent clients have been: Valero Refining Co., BMW of North
America, MGM Grand, New York University School of Dentistry, Merck,
Girl Scouts of the USA, and International Teachers of Business
Management Program.
