The Handbook of Work Based Learning - Hardcover

Cunningham, Ian; Dawes, Graham

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0566085410 ISBN 13: 9780566085413

Publisher: Routledge, 2004

Synopsis

Organizational leaders, governments and trade unions all agree that learning is fundamental to organizational and economic success. The question is how it should best be supported. The Handbook of Work Based Learning delivers a compelling answer to this question. Learning needs to be based in the realities of organizational life. This unique, groundbreaking handbook provides a definitive guide to the set of strategies, tactics and methods for supporting work based learning. The three main parts of the Handbook, which focus in turn on strategies, tactics and methods, are written for both the learner and the professional developer alike. Each includes a description of the process (strategy, tactic or method), provides examples of what it looks like in action, explains the benefits and the likely limitations and provides a set of operating hints for applying the process. Nothing has been neglected, so alongside detailed descriptions of what to do and how to do it, the authors have included the Declaration on Learning, created by thirteen of the major figures in the field of organizational learning, a section guiding you towards routes for gaining qualifications, along with a well-researched set of references and further reading.

About this title

About the Author

Ian Cunningham, Graham Dawes and Ben Bennett are all Directors of Strategic Developments International Limited. They have made significant contributions to learning in organizations through their research, their books and their consulting practice with major organizations around the world. They have gained a considerable reputation for their expertise and their dedication to helping organizations become more effective through learning and development.

Review

'...the stance of this book is how work-based learning can produce a learning organisation, and make it a much more effective one at the same time. Even so, there is very much here that is relevant to wbl from the viewpoints of schools and of the further and higher education sectors. The main themes are the nature of the various kinds of wbl and how they can best be supported (including by whom). ...It's not often one can say a book with such a price is worth the cost... this one is, without doubt, and many of us can learn a lot from it.' British Journal of Educational Technology 2006 Vol 37 No 5 'There is a good balance of concepts to help the reader understand the philosophy of work-based learning, and practical tools to encourage trying things out'. Useful? 4 stars Well-written? 4 stars Practical? 4 stars Inspirational? 3 stars Overall? 4 stars Personnel Today Oct.2005 'I recommend that organisations with the foresight to recognise the need for learning and development of its employees acquire this book' **** Keith Lawson, Personnel Today, July 2004 'I particularly like this book, it makes a compelling case for work-based learning ...(it) has an attractive logical flow, starting with strategic ideas and progressing through to specific things to do. It is honest in weighing up the pros and cons of the different methods of training it explores...far more useful than a mere encyclopaedia.' People Management, July 2004 'A splendidly upbeat book that leaves you in no doubt that informal, work-based learning must take centre stage if there is to be a quantum leap in learning productivity and effectiveness.' Training Journal, July 2004 'This is the most comprehensive and systematic work on learning that I have ever read. ...it deserves to be widely known and used. TrainingZONE Nov. 2004 'The authors have produced a definitive and authoritative text, which draws on experience in both the public and private sectors. ...it is well presented and good value, either in the hardback or CD-ROM version' Training Journal, Oct. 2004 'This book helps the learner to identify how to make best use of the learning opportunities that are always available to us. Often, these are at little cost to the training budget and can be implemented alongside the jobs that we do. This book is very pragmatic, and very easy to understand, it is not a volume that is full of unnecessary jargon and processes. I would recommend it to all those who need to create development plans that have some real performance criteria and which also pay back the investment in time and money'. Rob Shorrick, Human Resource Director, Avionics Group, BAE Systems plc I find it impossible to imagine a more helpful compendium of everything anyone will ever need to help them improve the effectiveness of work based learning. The authors have successfully combined a compelling case (with some persuasive campaigning!), with an utterly practical review of the strategies, tactics and methods open to learners, decision makers and developers (that, by the way, is everyone!). This book cheerfully demolishes all the usual excuses ('we're too busy', 'learning only happens on courses', 'informal learning doesn't count', 'people pick things up as they go along') with practical sense and pragmatic enthusiasm. Dr Peter Honey, Chartered Psychologist and Learning Specialist 'I began reading this book on the train from a call centre conference in Edinburgh and it took me three hours to get through the first 54 pages. This was not because the book was heavy going - far from it - but it was so absorbing and i was making so many notes.' Industrial and Commercial Training, 2005

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0566085410
• ISBN 13: 9780566085413
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 318