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

Since 1990, Mel Silberman’s classic book, Active Training, has been a runaway best-seller for trainers at all levels and a popular text for university level courses in adult education and training. The active training method—which turns the spotlight away from the instructor and put the emphasis on the learner—has emerged over time as a proven and reliable method for enhancing involvement, learning, and change.

The third edition of Active Training, provides a thorough introduction to the core principles of active training design and delivery and includes a wealth of examples, tips, and techniques. The book has been revised to reflect the latest trends in workforce training and key sections, such as assessment and evaluation, have been thoroughly updated. In addition, a completely new chapter has been included to cover the design of active training for e-learning and online applications.

Customer Reviews:

Many good ideas on how to make your training more active

By Gary Lim (garylimc@mbox2.singnet.com.sg - August 4, 1999

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.

Activate Your Training

By Keith E. Webb "Creator of The Coach Model?" - October 7, 2006

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+... read more

Superb book

By S. Desmond - October 3, 2011

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... read more

AVAILABILITY
Merchant	Format	Price
Amazon US	Paperback	$34.00 - $53.00
eBooks.com	Digital (PDF)	$53.00
BookByte	Paperback	$37.45
eCampus	Paperback	~~$16.00~~ discount!