Does your organization find itself returning to the same problems again and again, never quite solving them? Action learning enables employees to think differently as they seek to solve problems. In “Breakthrough Solutions With Action Learning,” Bea Carson explores how action learning can help teams identify the root cause of problems and thus find more appropriate solutions. In addition to solving real problems in a timely manner, action learning teams also discover how to work together. With the support of a coach, team members deliberately identify and build skills that can transfer to other work throughout their careers. In this issue of TD at Work, you will find: · a definition of action learning and how it differs from traditional problem solving · the six components of action learning · an overview of the action learning process · barriers to problem solving · questions to ask when implementing action learning.

Breakthrough Problem Solving with Action Learning explores why and how action learning groups have been so successful and creative in solving complex problems. The text begins by briefly reviewing the theories that undergird the effectiveness of action learning, philosophically situating readers and pointing them in the direction of related academic works that they may wish to explore. It then turns to stories of how organizations have employed action learning in solving specific, often-encountered business problems. These cases not only serve as real-world models for how action learning can be successfully employed, but also offer inspiration and potential starting points and guidelines for other businesses that face similar problems. The book concludes with a cross-case analysis that pinpoints the ingredients necessary for breakthrough problem solving via action learning.

The Handbook of Experiential Learning is a comprehensive resource that draws together contemporary thought and practice on a wide range of experiential learning applications from the best-known authorities on the topic. In this book, volume editor and leading experiential learning expert, Mel Silberman presents a contemporary review of experiential learning in the workplace complete with models, applications, and innovative uses. The handbook covers a broad range of experiential learning methods including: Games and simulations Action learning Role-play and Improv Story-telling Adventure activity Reflective practice Creative play It also describes the use of experiential learning in topics such as technical skills, leadership, team building, diversity and cross-cultural training, and emotional intelligence.

Get real results for your business – maximize your training and development programs Corporate learning and development programs play an undeniable role in successful business endeavors, but only when they're done right. The significant revisions in the third edition of The Six Disciplines of Breakthrough Learning add fresh, timely elements to a resource that has become known globally as a trusted guide for professionals determined to get the most of their companies' training and development programs. All-new examples, tools, guides, and insights combine to make an excellent, all-in-one resource for everyone from workplace professionals and HR managers to training development providers and businesses leaders looking to maximize the return on their enterprise's learning budget. Infused with current research and recent case studies, this resource serves as a practical guide that recommends concrete actions for producing tangible results. Tools, guides, and checklists in every chapter ensure that readers walk away with meaningful strategies that can be implemented right away. The book includes: A complete review of research drawn from thousands of insights, goals, and lessons learned Specific strategies and actions that can be put into effect quickly for immediate results A focus on ROI for business leaders wanting to make a clearer connection between dollars spent and new skills gained Checklists in each chapter to help learning organizations perform quality audits of new and existing learning programs The third edition of The Six Disciplines of Breakthrough Learning contains so many new resources and so much thoroughly-revised content that even those who own previous editions will find its reinvigorated approach highly beneficial. Strengthen the link between your learning efforts and your business goals with this increasingly popular, globally recognized resource.

Human Resource Development Relies Upon a Strong Educational Foundation In the Handbook of Human Resource Development, Neal Chalofsky, Tonette Rocco, and Michael Lane Morris have compiled a collection of chapters sponsored by the Academy of Human Resource Development to address the fundamental concepts and issues that HR professionals face daily. The chapters are written and supported by professionals who offer a wide range of experience and who represent the industry from varying international and demographic perspectives. Topics addressed form a comprehensive view of the HRD field and answer a number of key questions. Nationally and internationally, how does HRD stand with regard to academic study and research? What is its place in the professional world? What are the philosophies, values, and critical perspectives driving HRD forward? What theories, research initiatives, and other ideas are required to understand HRD and function successfully within this field? As the industry grows, what are the challenges and important issues that professionals expect to face? What hot topics are occupying these professionals now? The Handbook’s insight and guidelines allows students and HR professionals to build a fundamental understanding of HRD as an industry, as a field of research, and for future professional success.

Foundational guidance you’ve been looking for The best organizations recognize that no leader or employee can be expert in everything, but that everyone needs to be at their best if organizations are to be productive and successful. If your goal is to develop talent within your organization, this concise yet foundational book has the keys to success. Renowned industry leader and bestselling author Elaine Biech guides you through getting started, designing and implementing your talent development program, demonstrating success, and planning next steps. But just as important, she poses critical questions that only you and your organization can answer. Biech interweaves best practices with the latest technology to offer many templates, tools, worksheets, and tips to help you explore how to support your organization into the future. Starting a Talent Development Program is part of a new ATD series, What Works in Talent Development, which addresses the most critical topics facing today’s talent development practitioners. Each book in the series is written for trainers, by trainers, and offers an examination of core subject matter and a defined way to solve real issues.

Fully revised third edition now available! Put the "action" in action learning with this revised second edition. This revised second edition of the groundbreaking guidebook puts the action in Action Learning, clearly demonstrating how and why this powerful method for addressing today's increasingly complex organizational challenges actually works. From Saudi Arabia to Singapore, Sweden to South Africa, profiles of such Global 100 leaders as GE, Sony, and Boeing tell the story of the power of action learning to create new products, improve service quality, and transform organizational cultures for competitive advantage and sustained success. It includes examples from the governmental and non-profit world, as well as offering up new better questioning techniques and creative strategies for organizational development.

The Six Disciplines of Breakthrough Learning presents an innovative approach that accelerates the transfer and application of corporate learning. The Six Disciplines provides the definitive road map and tools for optimizing the business impact of leadership and management training, sales, quality, performance improvement, and individual development programs. This important book presents the theories and techniques behind the approach and includes expert advice for bridging the “learning-doing” gap. The authors’ recommendations are illustrated with dozens of real-life examples from successful companies on the cutting edge of results-driven educational performance.

Bridge the achievement gap with proven strategies for student success Breakthrough Principals debunks the myth of the 'superhero' principal by detailing the common actions and practices of leaders at our nation's fastest-gaining public schools. Based on the authors' Transformational Leadership Framework, which they developed through in-depth study of more than 100 high-gaining, high-poverty schools, the book distills findings into a practical, action-focused plan for diagnosing school needs and implementing structures, systems and practices that accelerate student achievement. Brought to life by case studies of principals who have led dramatic gains in student achievement, the book is a how-to guide for increasing the quality of teaching and learning; improving school culture; attracting and supporting high-performing teachers; and involving parents and community to help students achieve. You'll learn how breakthrough principals make the school's mission a real part of both strategy and practice, and set up sustainable systems that support consistent, ongoing improvement. High-impact practices are organized into five broad categories: learning and teaching, school-wide culture, aligned staff, operations and systems, and personal leadership. The primary job of school leadership is to help students succeed. It begins with first recognizing and prioritizing areas of need, then finding and implementing the most effective solutions. Whether you work in a turn around environment, or want to make a good school better, this book will give you a set of concrete practices—illustrated through examples of real principals in real schools—that have been proven to work. Discover the primary drivers of student achievement Work toward the school's vision in staffing, operations, and systems Set the tone for all relationships and practices with good leadership Closing the achievement gap is a major goal of educational leadership, and principals are forever searching for viable methods that help them better serve their students. Breakthrough Principals unveils the details behind the success stories from across the nation to provide a roadmap to transformative gains.

"A clear and insightful look at why teaching must be conceived as constant learning about learning. The analysis of past failed reforms and the general conditions needed for success is well-stated and illuminating." —Grant Wiggins Authentic Education Redesign classroom instruction to transform learning for both students and teachers! Breakthrough presents a revolutionary new approach to educational reform, breaking away from the conventional paradigm to help educators create focused instruction, transform the classroom experience, and dramatically raise—and sustain—performance levels for students and teachers alike. This book provides the breakthrough concepts needed for developing precise, validated, data-driven instruction personalized to each and every student. Synthesizing the best of current instructional models, this framework focuses on the components of the Triple P Breakthrough Model: Personalization—meaningful, student-centered classroom interactions; Precision—using formative assessments to monitor individual student progress; and Professional Learning—daily, ongoing learning for all educators. Helping educators create expert instructional systems while breaking through the "prescription trap," the authors introduce unique elements of the Breakthrough model, including: Improvement by design Assessment for learning Critical learning instructional paths Mapping instructional paths Smart use of data to drive instruction Locking in ongoing improvement Breakthrough establishes the tipping point for moving toward personalized, high-quality instruction and learning in the classroom to ensure continuous improvement and ongoing academic success.