A well-documented, theory-based treatment that focuses on instructional design’s application to industry and K-12 education. Offers extensive procedural assistance, emphasizing the foundations and first principles upon which most of the models and procedures in the field are built. An Extended Example (now online) showcases applications of concepts and techniques using a single subject area and course (Digital Photography).

Learn how to be proactive by defining and justifying where you should head before deciding how to get there. To help you in the process, this book introduces the concepts and tools underlying mega thinking and planning. The decision about where an organization should be headed couldn't be more basic. How about yours? Do you know where you are headed? Is it the right place to go?

Individuals, teams and organizations make decisions everyday intended to improve performance. But, too often, they rush into finding the solution before defining the problem. This book contains seven self-assessments designed to help you define the issue of "what to accomplish" before deciding "how to accomplish it." With these seven assessments, you can collect, analyze and interpret the data necessary to confirm your suspicions before making recommendations. Do you feel there is neglect of the strategic planning process in your organization? Is it time to move into E-learning? Does your corporate culture require change? Avoid jumping to conclusions - gather the facts first and be sure you are headed where you want to end up before selecting how to get there. In nine chapters, the authors present seven self-assessments: Strategic Thinking and Planning; Needs Assessment and Your Organization; Corporate Culture and Your Organization; Evaluation and Your Organization; Performance Improvement Competencies; Performance Motivation to Change; Organizational Readiness for E-learning. Each instrument uses a unique dual response - "what is" and "what should be" - format with performance-related questions. The book includes instructions on how to complete the surveys, decide what the results mean and use the results. Also included is a glossary of terms used that focuses on results and payoffs instead of the process, activities and interventions applied.

Competencies, and human competence itself, are rapidly receiving well-deserved recognition as an essential, required element of business success. Without worker competence and supportive organizational practices and strategies, the strategic outcomes desired by organizations can not be realized. Competencies are helping organizations successfully cope with constant and rapid change. This valuable book contains 12 detailed case studies which provide a snapshot of how a variety of practitioners conceptualized, created, and implemented competency-driven performance improvement opportunities in their organizations. A variety of mechanisms and approaches are represented by cases drawn from organizations from both the manufacturing and service sectors. The cases include projects from areas such as leadership development, human resource practices, technical and professional training and development, and organization development.

During the 1990s, the workplace was rediscovered as a rich source of learning. The issue of workplace learning has since received increasing attention from academics and practitioners alike but is still under-researched empirically. This book brings together a range of state-of-the-art research papers addressing interventions to support learning in the workplace. The authors are experienced international scholars who have an interest in making HRD and workplace learning practices more evidence-based through practical relevant research. Although workplace learning is largely an autonomous process, many organizations want to manage it as part of their broader HRD strategy. There are limits, however, to the extent to which the complex dynamics of learning in the workplace can be guided in pre-determined desirable directions. This tension between the possible strengths of workplace learning and the limits of managing it is at the heart of this volume. The book is broken into three sections. The first section deals with workplace learning interventions, including HRD practitioners’ strategies, training and development activities, and e-learning programs. The second section investigates the impact of social support, or lack thereof, in workplace learning, such as mentoring, coaching, and socialization practices. The third section addresses collective learning in the workplace, looking at teams, knowledge productivity, and collaborative capability building.

A cutting edge collection of 59 essays solicited from Web-based instructors offering a variety of perspectives, notions, and experiences in the practice of virtual teaching. The compendium introduces the evolution and status of distance learning, critical issues in Web-based learning environments such as the similarities and differences between Web-based and traditional classrooms, specific discussions on designing learning activities and electronic textbooks, an evaluation of delivery systems for instruction, and case studies of Web-based courses from kindergarten and beyond to the instruction of literature, astronomy, and foreign languages. Includes illustrations. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR