Individuals with low incomes often struggle to advance in the labor market, yet at the same time, some employers report difficulty finding workers with the necessary skills. WorkAdvance is a workforce development model that seeks to address the needs of both of these groups through its "dual customer" approach. The model offers training…

Information Technology (IT) encompasses all aspects of computing technology. IT is concerned with issues relating to supporting technology users and meeting their needs within an organizational and societal context through the selection, creation, application, integration, and administration of computing technologies (Lunt, et. al., 2008). The…

As our world becomes more interconnected on international, domestic, and personal levels, our need to be more culturally competent increases (Samovar, Porter, & McDaniel, 2007; Ting-Toomey, 1999). Recognizing this need, Washington State University Extension sought to increase skills of its personnel by developing a set of cultural competencies…

Although a great deal of time, resources and effort goes into the education of potential or existing entrepreneurs, our knowledge of the effects of this education is still rather limited. It can be argued that an imbalance exists between the substantial amount of finance and manpower invested in entrepreneurship education programmes and the very…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate an innovative way to train adult apprentices for the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach: The paper emphasizes that, in order to address skills shortages for international construction, training methods must be improved. It looks at the example of an adult apprenticeship scheme in…

The author describes the preparation, delivery, and evaluation of five teleconferencing sessions and draws out the lessons learned. She relates the findings to the literature on the topic. (JOW)

Offers effective ways to increase student involvement in the training classroom. Suggestions include use of questions and answers, subgroups, case studies and role playing, and debating. Indicates that the measure of success lies in how much usable learning has been accomplished by the greatest number of people. (JOW)

Serious studies are underway that may help outdoor experiential training (OET) shed its faddishness and gain credibility as a legitimate instructional methodology. Only those programs that include clear objectives, skilled facilitation, a plan for transferring training back to the job, and credible evaluation and followup will be effective and…

Drawing on her experience with County Durham Learning and subsequently as a Recognising and Recording Progress and Achievement in Non-Accredited Learning (RARPA) Champion for the Learning and Skills Council and as a trainer for the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) and the Learning and Skills Network, the author outlines the…

Discusses how to develop and implement an open learning program when there are materials available but no trainers to use them. (JOW)

An instructional methods inventory was completed by 200 geologists and geophysicists, 117 of whom had just completed a technical seminar. Results indicate that field trips, illustrated lectures, and small-group simulations are highly effective instructional techniques. Results also indicate that four and one-half day seminars are preferred. (CH)

Compares fine arts and the art of training design. Suggests ways to design programs creatively to transform people's performance: (1) break the rhythm; (2) combine apples and oranges; (3) get out of order; (4) toy with success; and (5) put on a good show. (JOW)

A standardized training valuation system (TVS) is built around a set of analytic tools and employs a four-step process: situation, intervention, impact, value. The methodology identifies specific, current, and potential values as well as value obtained. It also helps determine why a training program failed. (JOW)

Discusses ethics training in terms of expected outcomes, contribution to the organization, value, effectiveness, and evaluation methods. Addresses what is known about ethics training, the renewed emphasis on ethics, and what works. (JOW)

This article consists of a conceptual framework that classifies adult educators according to the roles they occupy and outcomes they seek. This heuristic device provides a framework for discussion on training. (Editor/CT)