Technical Training Basics, 2nd Edition

Table of contents

1. Cover
2. Title Page
3. Copyright
4. Contents
5. About the Training Basics Series
6. Preface
7. 1. The Technical Training Enigma
   1. What Is Technical Training?
   2. Differences Between Technical and Nontechnical Training
   3. What Is a Technical Organization?
   4. The Role of Technical Training Within the Technical Organization
   5. Competency Assurance
   6. Technical Courses Versus Technical Learning Experiences
   7. Basic Requirements to Promote Technical Learning and Performance Improvement
   8. Cracking the Enigma—Learning Measurement
   9. What We’ve Learned
   10. Getting It Done
8. 2. Effective Technical Training
   1. Active and Passive Learning
   2. Variety, Differentiated Instruction, and Varied Practice
   3. Getting It Done
9. 3. The Successful Development Team
   1. Roles in Technical Course Development
   2. Successful Developer Characteristics
   3. Traits of the Ideal Subject Matter Expert
   4. Finding a Good SME
   5. What We’ve Learned
   6. Getting It Done
10. 4. Technical Training Development Strategies
    1. ADDIE Model
    2. Agile
    3. Reconciling ADDIE and Agile
    4. Example: Iterative ADDIE
    5. Getting It Done
11. 5. Beginning the Technical Training Project
    1. The Kickoff Meeting
    2. Introductions, Expectations, and Administrative Information
    3. Important Questions for Stakeholders and SMEs
    4. Getting It Done
12. 6. Targeting the Content
    1. Identify SMART Learning Objectives
    2. Prioritizing Content
    3. Learning Strategy Analysis
    4. Getting It Done
13. 7. Arranging a Technical Curriculum
    1. Options for Arranging a Technical Course
    2. The Building Blocks of a Design Document
    3. Getting It Done
14. 8. Designing Classroom Exercises for Highly Technical Content
    1. Three Categories of Exercises
    2. Getting It Done
15. 9. Gathering Information
    1. Types of Information to Seek
    2. In-House Sources of Information
    3. External Sources of Information
    4. Maximizing Information You Receive
    5. Challenges of Gathering Information
    6. Specific Tactics for Collecting Information
    7. Getting It Done
16. 10. Working With Subject Matter Experts
    1. Developing Content With SMEs
    2. Finding Out “the Why” From Your SME
    3. Getting Past Tangents
    4. Going Through Edits With Your SME
    5. Getting It Done
17. 11. The Pilot Class and Beyond
    1. Helping Out the SME-Turned-Trainer
    2. Development Opportunities From the Pilot Class
    3. Post-Course Maintenance
    4. Getting It Done
18. 12. Troubleshooting: Challenges and Solutions
    1. Challenge: Technical Content Is Too Complicated
    2. Challenge: You Can’t Tell What Content Is “Nice to Know” and What Is “Need to Know”
    3. Challenge: Your SME Has a Full-Time Job Outside the Training Department
    4. Challenge: The Course You Have Been Asked to Redesign Has Already Been Taught for Years
    5. Challenge: The Course That Never Gets Finished
    6. Challenge: The Course That Needs to Be Finished Yesterday
    7. Challenge: The Organization Doesn’t Understand Active Training
    8. Challenge: You Don’t Know How to Make the Content Interactive
    9. Challenge: SMEs Disagree on Content
    10. Challenge: Equipment Is Unavailable for Training
    11. Challenge: Concrete Answers Do Not Exist
    12. Challenge: You Have a Global Training Audience
    13. Challenge: Technology Keeps Changing
    14. Challenge: I Don’t Know If My Learning Solution Is Effective
    15. Summing It Up—A Final Word on Technical Training Basics
    16. Getting It Done
19. References and Resources
20. About the Author
21. Back Cover