April/May 2005

Volume 45, Number 5

Book Review: Developing Training Courses: A Technical Writer's Guide to Instructional Design and Development

by Deb Lockwood

Developing Training Courses: A Technical Writer's Guide to Instructional Design and Development
Rives Hassell-Corbiell. 2001. Tacoma: Learning Edge Publishing. [ISBN: 0970145403. 252 pages. $29.95 (paperback).] http://www.lepublishing.com

As most of you already know, technical communicators are always learning and changing. If it's not us having to learn new techniques or new processes, then it's our clients, our products, our industries, or the tools we use to perform our jobs. As Rosanne Rosanna Danna used to say on Saturday Night Live: "It's always somethin'."

Well, wouldn't you know it? Just as soon as things started settling down here at work, it turns out that we content developers (who used to be called writers) are going to have to learn how to write training materials using actual training development theory. Oh boy…something else new. But—on the other hand—I've always wanted to learn about learning theory! And this gives me a great excuse.

In order to prepare me for what lies ahead, my manager suggested that I read Developing Training Courses: A Technical Writer's Guide to Instructional Design and Development by Rives Hassell-Corbiell. Instead of just borrowing a copy, I bought my own and I'm very glad that I did. I am going to keep this practical resource handy.

Hassell-Corbiell is an author, technical writer, corporate educator, and consultant. She is the principal officer for Learning Edge Consulting, Inc., Learning Edge Publishing, and Catalytic Training and Consulting, LLC. She is a member of the Puget Sound Chapter of STC and a member of the ASTD (American Society for Training & Development). She holds the Certified Professional Consultant to Management (CPCM) designation for professional accomplishment, Certified Management Consultant designation with the Institute of Management Consultants, and is certified at the Practitioner level for Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Her internationally sold book Developing Training Courses: A Technical Writer's Guide to Instructional Design and Development has won the Ben Franklin Gold award for best Education, Academic, and Teaching book, Ben Franklin Silver award for best Business and Reference book, and the STC Award of Merit award. She lives with her husband in Tacoma, Washington, USA.

Her book is full of real-world advice from someone who obviously knows her subject very well. In eight easy-to-understand steps, she tells the reader how to create effective training courses. I really like the following testimonial that is in the book: "This is the first book I recommend if you don't have time to make mistakes." Clare Petrich, Owner, Petrich Marine Dock. Enough said.

This book is separated into the following sections and chapters:

Section 1: Foundation
	Chapter 1: Skill Sets for the Future
	Chapter 2: Quick Start
	Chapter 3: Assess Your Training Development Skills
	Chapter 4: Forecasting Stormy Conditions
	Chapter 5: Adult Learners
Section 2: What to Do and How
	Chapter 6: Overview of Systematic Training Development
	Chapter 7: Step 1 - Project Plan
	Chapter 8: Step 2 - Analysis
	Chapter 9: Step 3 - Objectives
	Chapter 10: Step 4 - Criterion Tests
	Chapter 11: Step 5 - Course Design
	Chapter 12: Step 6 - Content Development
	Chapter 13: Step 7 - Pilot and Verify
	Chapter 14: Step 8 - Evaluate and Revise
	Chapter 15: The Finished Product
Section 3: Manage and Customize
	Chapter 16: Managing the Training Development Process
	Chapter 17: Customizing Off-the-Shelf Courses
	Chapter 18: Writing for International Markets
	Chapter 19: Repurposing Documentation to Training
	Chapter 20: Ready-to-Use Scripts
Section 4: Appendices
	Job Aids
	Bibliography of References
	Bibliography of Resources
	Glossary
	Index

The author has laid out this book very well, making it very easy to read, and it is chock full of references and resources of where you can go to get more information. The book is broken into smaller sections that are easily digestible, even for someone like me who is totally new to this subject.

If you have always wanted to know more about developing training courses, or if—like me—you know that training material development is in your future, consider obtaining a copy of this practical book. You can purchase a copy through the eStore at www.lepublishing.com or through other book dealers.