In this article, "Training" editors recognize innovative and successful learning and development programs and practices submitted in the 2012 Training Top 125 application. Best practices: (1) Edward Jones: Practice Makes Perfect (sales training); (2) Grant Thornton LLP: Senior Manager Development Program (SMDP); (3) MetLife, Inc.: Top Advisor…

Apprenticeships are a time-honored way of passing along skills in an art, trade, or craft. Apprenticeships have long been an important element of career and technical education (CTE). From automotive technology to the construction trades to the culinary arts and beyond, community colleges across the nation are still using apprenticeships to…

In a competitive workforce it is not just having the right qualification or technical skills that will land an individual a job; it could very well be their interpersonal skills. How someone communicates is often the first impression an employer has of a possible worker. Yet, it is precisely communication skills that employers feel applicants are…

This paper discusses the importance of effective training and workforce development programs as part of a broader strategy to increase the competitiveness of American workers. Although rapid technological change and increasing global competition have delivered great economic benefits to the U.S. economy overall, the development of new and more…

To improve the employment rates and earnings of Americans workers, we need to create more-coherent and more-effective education and workforce development systems, focusing primarily (though not exclusively) on disadvantaged youth and adults, and with education and training more clearly targeted towards firms and sectors that provide good-paying…

Governments are currently mobilising their national workforces to compete effectively in a globalised economy where being export-effective and import-competitive are necessary to secure national economic and social goals. Australia is no exception here. Yet, in this country, as in others, similar mobilisations occurred in earlier times, most…

Skills, today, are transferable to a variety of occupations. This article outlines the formulation and identification of skills which are common to a large number of jobs and basic to a series of specialized or job specific skills, and the development of individualized training modules for the identified skills. (Author/KP)

This guide for the providers of training for trainers details the core (job) competencies required for the majority of specialist training jobs. Its purpose is to provide a basis from which the planning and development of training for trainers can proceed. Introductory materials include definitions of the roles of the trainers, other definitions,…

A SIX-STEP PROCESS IS DESCRIBED FOR DEFINING JOB-RELEVANT OBJECTIVES FOR THE TRAINING OF MILITARY PERSONNEL. (1) A FORM OF SYSTEM ANALYSIS IS OUTLINED TO PROVIDE THE CONTEXT FOR THE STUDY OF A PARTICULAR MILITARY OCCUPATION SPECIALTY. (2) A TASK INVENTORY IS MADE OF THE MAJOR DUTIES IN THE JOB AND THE MORE SPECIFIC JOB TASKS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH…

Reports highlights of the American Society for Training and Development's (ASTD) professional development study to develop a model of professional roles and competencies for ASTD members. Members' ratings of trainer activities were used to construct role models for professional trainers. (M F)

Describes a collection of techniques used to increase use of skills learned in a training program for the staff of a motor freight common carrier company; briefly summarizes nature of the training program, its rationale, target population, content and delivery methods; and summarizes the training program's effects on employee performance. (MBR)

Presents the Relapse Prevention model, which provides the structure in which managers can analyze potential lapses in their own skill retention. Discusses training goals, self-management, specific strategies, choosing a skill to retain, imagery and prediction, and holistic training. (CT)

Four papers were presented at a conference dealing with the objectives and problems of operational context training (OCT) sponsored by HumRRO in June 1958. The first paper (by William McCleland) outlines the objectives of the conference and its general goals. The second paper (by Arthur J. Hoehn) describes the use of operational context training…

Discussion of the Training and Development Lead Body that defines occupational standards in the United Kingdom focuses on the development of standards for human resource development professionals. Topics addressed include the structure of the standards, applications, the lack of standards for technology-based training, and a forthcoming hypertext…

Lower manpower quality and increasingly sophisticated equipment are creating training problems for both industry and the military. The training technology demanded by this situation must be delivered to and available at the job site, must be designed to motivate independent use by students rather than to encourage teacher acceptance, must be…