Jean Barbazette – How to Write Terrific Training Materials: Methods, Tools, and Techniques

Jean Barbazette is founder of The Training Clinic, a consulting firm based in Seal Beach, California.

Website Contents xix

Acknowledgments xxiii

Introduction xxv

Chapter 1 Overview of the Design Process 1

Essential Steps in the Training Design Process 2

Where Materials Development Fits into the Design Process 3

A Ten-Part Training Plan to Use as a Blueprint for Materials Development 4

How to Present a Training Plan to Management and Gain Approval 7

Next Steps 7

Chapter 2 Objectives for Writing Projects 9

Instructional Objectives Versus Objectives for Training Program Materials 10

Write Instructional Objectives 10

Four Characteristics of Instructional Objectives 10

Four Elements of Well-Written Objectives for Training Program Materials 14

Sample Objectives for Writing Materials 16

Next Steps 18

Chapter 3 Use the Writing Process 19

Assess Your Writing Skills 20

Use Four Steps to Organize Your Ideas 21

Next Steps 28

Chapter 4 What Are the Best Training Methods? 29

Select the Best Learning Experiences 31

Select the Appropriate Technical Training Methods to Promote Recall and Application 36

Select the Best Audiovisual Support for Materials Design and Delivery 40

Pace Training Methods to Avoid Boredom 42

Determine How Much Practice Is Needed to Learn a Skill 45

Sequence Training Methods Using a Situational Training Model 48

Describe How the Materials Development Process Changes Based on Classroom Versus e-Learning Delivery 51

Next Steps 52

Chapter 5 Develop Materials for Learning Activities 57

Write Three Types of Materials, Depending on the Purpose 59

Use a Seven-Step Process to Design Learning Activities 60

Adapt, Modify, or Create New Learning Experiences 65

Create Discovery Learning by Developing Five Adult Learning Steps to Process Any Learning Activity 68

Distinguish the Use of Different Types of Handout Materials 72

Edit Materials to Address Content and Format Issues 73

Develop Effective and Lean Job Aids 75

Use Different Graphic Looks to Enhance Training Materials 80

Next Steps 87

Chapter 6 Develop Learning Activities to Acquire Knowledge and Skill and to Influence Attitudes 89

Application Sharing 91

The Case Study Method 94

How to Develop a Case Study 106

Discussion or Chat 121

Games and Simulations 124

In-Basket Exercises 132

Interviews 134

Jigsaw Learning, Teaching Learning Teams, Teaching Projects 135

Polling 138

Task Force Projects 138

Writing Tasks 143

Session Starters and Energizers 145

Next Steps 147

Chapter 7 Develop Learning Activities to Acquire Knowledge 149

Lecture 151

Learning Tournaments 155

Self-Study Materials, Printed Resources, and Information Search 157

Course Pre-Work 158

Study Groups 160

Observation, Field Trips, and Video 160

Demonstrations 162

Tests 163

Next Steps 163

Chapter 8 Develop Learning Activities to Acquire Skill 165

Practice and Return Demonstrations 170

Role Play/Skill Practice 173

Next Steps 174

Chapter 9 Develop Learning Activities to In fluence Attitudes 177

Empathy Role Play 179

Inquiry-Oriented Discussions 183

Self-Assessments and Inventories 186

Behavior Modeling 191

Next Steps 194

Chapter 10 Develop Assessments and Tests 195

Why Write Tests? 197

Do We Need to Test? Criteria for Testing 197

Skill Performance Tests 198

Knowledge Tests 199

Test Development Steps 199

Test Reliability 206

Test Validity 207

Skill Performance Rating Systems 209

Next Steps 220

Chapter 11 Develop a Lesson Plan or Leader’s Guide 221

Contents of Lesson Plans 222

Types of Lesson Plans 222

Chapter 12 Design Effective Visual Support 233

Flip Charts, Whiteboards 237

Design Slides with Power 239

Color Psychology 239

Transition and Build Checklist 240

Video Scripting 241

Converting Classrom Training for e-Learning 246

Bibliography 251

About the Author 253

Index 255