From the acclaimed North American Simulation and Gaming Association, comes the much-anticipated The NASAGA Training Activity Book. This first-of-its-kind book offers a dynamic collection of ready-to-use games, simulations, and activities. With contributions from expert trainers, educators, and simulation and game designers, this highly accessible resource presents a variety of activities that address the most common issues that trainers are asked to tackle including: Communication Conflict management Creativity Customer service/sales/marketing Decision making/problem solving MulticulturAL ISSUES Organization development Self-awareness/personal growth Team building Training of trainers Each activity is presented in detail, giving suggestions on set-up, group size, materials and equipment, process, and debriefing. To address the wide range of training opportunities, the book includes at least two variations for each activity. Contributors demonstrate how to adapt each activity to ensure learning is directly connected to instructional objectives and considerate of cultural issues. In addition, all the activities are cross-referenced to other uses. The NASAGA Training Activity Book is filled with illustrative examples that show how activities can be used for maximum results and includes several debriefing models that contain real answers to help facilitators during debriefing sessions.

Eleven classroom-tested games that can be mixed, matched, and modified for any training objective. Facilitate and evaluate your learning game play with the right combination of paper exercises, card games, board games, and unconventional activities that require a variety of unique props. Training Games provides a convenient game-use matrix to help you select the best games for your objectives. Templates and worksheets, included on the CD-ROM, allow for immediate classroom application.

"Quite simply, Thiagi is the most prolific and creative designer of games and simulations in the world." - Glenn Parker, author of Cross-Functional Teams and Team Players and Teamwork Wholly revised to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Barnga is the classic simulation game for exploring communication challenges across cultures. While playing Barnga, participants experience the shock of realizing that despite their good intentions and the many similarities amongst themselves, people interpret things differently, one from the other, in profoundly important ways, especially people from differing cultures. Players learn that they must understand and reconcile these differences if they want to function effectively in a cross-cultural group. The "game" is deceptively simple: participants, broken up into several small groups, play a simple card, never knowing that each group has been given a subtly different set of rules to play by, nor that those rules will change yet again as the game develops and groups of players are reconfigured. Conflicts quickly begin to occur as players move from group to group, simulating real cross-cultural encounters, where people initially believe they share the same understanding of the basic rules and learn to their dismay and confusion that they do not. In discovering that the rules are different, players undergo a mini culture shock similar to actual experience when entering a different culture. They then must struggle to understand and reconcile these differences to play the game effectively in their "cross-cultural" groups. Difficulties are magnified by the fact that players may not speak to each other but can communicate only through gestures or pictures. In struggling to understand why other players don't seem to be playing correctly, and with the aid of the facilitator, participants gain insight into the dynamics of cross-cultural encounters. Participant instructions are provided in French, German, and Spanish as well as English. The 25th anniversary edition of Barnga introduces new features: - Now, as few as 2 and as many as 40 people can play! - Revised, play-tested rules provide optimal jolt to players. - Improved game design helps those with limited experience playing card games. - Partnership play enables players to comprehend the impact of peer support. - Different tournament formats raise new types of communication challenges. - For trainers - an expanded debriefing section that takes less than an hour.

The newly revised and updated fourth edition of Methods and Materials for Teaching the Gifted is an excellent introduction to gifted education and real-world learning. The chapters of this comprehensive textbook are written by respected leaders in the field of gifted education. The authors review the unique needs of gifted learners and give current information on instructional planning and evaluation, strategies for best practices, and ongoing enhancement and support of gifted programs. Chapters include topics such as differentiated curricular design, extending learning through research, writing challenging instructional units, and developing leadership skills and innovative thinkers. Instructional practices such as problem-based learning, technology literacy, independent study, simulation and gaming, and more are addressed. A special focus is given to using the Gifted Education Programming Standards and Common Core State Standards. The fourth edition provides updated information on funding sources and public relations strategies for gifted education programs. It also includes updated lists of books, teaching materials, websites, and other resources for teachers of the gifted.

This fifth annual edition of The ASTD Training and Performance Yearbook gives readers the best articles and reference information of the past year from leading training industry periodicals so that trainers can stay current with the changes and cutting-edge thinking in their field. Covering the planning, delivery, and evaluation of performance improvement and training programs -- plus a directory of contact information for key training industry organizations, conferences, and periodicals -- this handy yearbook packs the most important industry trends into one comprehensive guide.

Praise for Jolts! "Only Thiagi and his co-author, Tracy, could have devised a list of 50 magical learning moments that are concise and certain to JOLT learners into new perspectives and profound insights. If you facilitate group learning or change management, you won't want to miss this one!" —Elaine Biech, author of Business of Consulting and Training for Dummies "Give your training sessions a jump start with Jolt activities in less than 5 minutes. These easy-to-use creative techniques help learners gain instant insights. Not just session starters, this collection is a valuable addition to any trainer's bookshelf." —Jean Barbazette, president, The Training Clinic, and author of The Art of Great TrainingDelivery and Managing the Training Function for Bottom-Line Results "As a Charter Member of BFT (Borrow from Thiagi) Club, I've been adapting Thiagi's training activities for decades. I have built college courses and training workshops around Thiagi and Tracy's jolts. Use the jolts from this book as a way to instantly and successfully engage your participants with your topic." —Steve Sugar, author of Games That Teach Jolt|jolt|: a powerful training tool that will help you engage your participants and focus attention on your learning event. Master trainer Sivasailam "Thiagi" Thiagarajan and co-author Tracy Tagliati introduce a brand-new set of powerful training activities specially designed to get participants to sit-up, listen, and learn—to jolt them into a new level of participation, activity, and change. The forty-seven games and activities in Jolts! are interactive and emotionally charged—carefully chosen for their ability to make participants think, and think differently. When you really need to give your participants a powerful wake-up call, startle them into re-examining their assumptions and habitual practices, or encourage self-reflection, problem solving, and fresh perspectives—zap them with Jolts!

Designing and Developing Training Programs is filled with practical information, best practices, and proven strategies. This book will help both new and experienced trainers design and develop training programs that achieve results for both individuals and their organizations while meeting the challenges of today's fast-paced, rapidly changing learning environment. Created to be easy-to-use, Designing and Developing Training Programs covers a wide range of topics, including how to: Ensure that training is needed, relevant, and cost-effective Analyze the needs and characteristics of the audience Write behavioral learning Select the right content and design activities that help people learn Develop effective learning materials Create a program evaluation Design virtual and remote training programs Praise for Designing and Developing Training Programs "Janis Fisher Chan is truly a master designer, having an uncanny ability to help people to truly think. Her book is of real service to anyone in the field of training." —Manfred Kets de Vries, Raoul de Vitry d'Avaucourt Chaired Clinical Professor of Leadership Development and director, INSEAD Global Leadership Centre "What makes Janis Chan's book so exceptional is the variety of challenging, content-related exercises that bring the concepts 'up close and personal' into the reader's life and work." —Sharon Bowman, Author, Training from the BACK of the Room!