Training Best Practices

The purpose of this book is to collaboratively share a collection of learning/training best practices across many different organizations. For definition purposes, a best practice is something that can be replicated at multiple locations, expecting similar results; and not just something that worked well inside an organization.

Bryan Chapman Conducting a Learning Lab.

We welcome you to add stories, examples, as well as documented, results-oriented best practices to this Wiki, entitled "Training Best Practices," so that others may use them to develop learning strategies at their organizations.

The initial book started as part of a Learning Lab at Training Directors Forum on June 16, 2006 in Palm Springs, California.

Best Practice Profiles

1. Using Alignment to Get Management Buy-in
2. Assessment
   1. Common Mistakes in Creating Assessments
3. Blended Learning
4. Resources

Case studies

1. Training with Competition / Whataburger WhataGames Case Study
2. Engaging in Dialogue/Cafe Conversations
3. Trading Swaps with Futures case study

Subject Matter Experts

1. Subject Matter Experts
2. Communities of Specialists
   1. Communities of Specialists at Lam Research
   2. Communities of Specialists - Identifying Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
3. Working with Subject Matter Experts
   1. Leveraging SMEs as Full Time employees
   2. Involving SMEs from Project Inception to Deployment
   3. Use of the Master SME

Misc.

1. Customizing - Low Cost QRGs
2. Podcasting
   1. Change the Human Performance Way
   2. Transforming a Training Organization into a Performance Organization
      1. Transforming a Training Organization click here to view article and presentation on this topic by M. McGinnis
3. PowerPoint for E-Learning
   1. Drawbacks
   2. Keeping it Simple
4. Selecting a Learning Management System
   1. LMS On A Shoestring
   2. Do you need one?
5. Simulations
   1. Simulations Designed to Meet Business Goals
   2. Simulations Designed to Keep Learners Engaged
   3. Software Simulations: How close to the real thing do they need to be?
6. Strategy Development
   1. Strategic Visioning
   2. Using Technology for System-wide Implementation
7. Training Games and Activities

See also

1. Virtual Worlds - potential for training
2. Combine Theory with Application

Sample Format of Best Practice Profiles

Click Here to see a Sample Format. Please feel free to cut and paste the contents of the sample when submitting your best practice examples. The sample includes a list of recommended headings.

About the Authors

The initial group of authors who started this project, were assembled for an onsite, Wiki lab at Training Directors Forum, June 13, 2006 in Palm Springs, California. The book was added to by a group of most excellent authors at Training Conference 2007 in Orlando, Florida on February 28, 2007. The audience is made of up of Training Managers and Training Executives. If you are not part of this group, but would like to contribute best practice examples to this book, please feel free to do so, and be sure to add your name, title, company and bio to the "About the Authors" section.

Additional content was added February 28, 2007 by participants of the Training 2007 Conference from Disney World.

Click Here for a List of Authors