Review – Developing Technical Training

Developing Technical Training

Developing Technical Training: A Structured Approach for the Development of Classroom and Computer-Based Instructional Materials, Ruth Colvin Clark. Addison Wesley, 1989.
Clark provides a framework for thinking about content and performance. On one dimension is “Apply vs. Remember”; on the other are “Facts, Concepts, Processes, Procedures, and Principles.” For each cell, she suggests an approach for how to teach that type of material. For example, for concepts you might show examples and non-examples; you might practice with a classification exercise, and test with a classification test on different items. The emphasis is on applying learning in realistic conditions as much as possible. I didn’t find the computer part particularly helpful, but the general training material seemed like good advice. (Reviewed Oct., 2004)