The techniques of instruction
Review by Mike Unwalla, 2002/11/27
Roger James, 1995. The techniques of instruction. Gower Publishing Ltd. 153 pages, figures, tables. ISBN 0-566-07550-4
This book would be better titled, 'The techniques of instructor-led instruction', because that is what it is about. The first line of the preface states, "This book is aimed at instructors everywhere". Later, the author states that his intention is to help people who want to become instructors. The aim of the book is to present instructors with techniques on how to improve their instructional methods.
Dr Roger James is the author of many books, papers and reports on industrial training. When The techniques of instruction was published he was Principal Occupational Psychologist with the Employment Service. The techniques that he presents are based on research, rather than being based on anecdotal evidence.
The book's preface states that an instructor is a "person responsible for helping a trainee develop skilled performance at some form of activity". The author discusses the differences between classroom teaching, coaching and training. The focus of the book is training in an industrial environment.
A primary tenet of the book is that "instructors are part of the training process, and without instructors training does not happen". Other forms of instruction such as simulation, "see and do" videos and Computer Based Training (CBT) are not discussed. The first four chapters of the book deal with: the role of instructors; the structure of training programmes; the effect that a trainer has on a learner's development; and the process of instruction.
Chapter five presents a model of how people learn, and the following chapter shows how people develop skills.
The relationship between closed skills and open skills is discussed in chapter seven. Closed skills are small operations that can be performed in isolation, without much reference to the external environment. Open skills are performed in a changing world, and typically rely on decision making. Some tasks use just closed skills, and some require both open and closed skills.
In chapter eight, the author dispels the myth that trainees should first learn accuracy, and only then focus on speed. He explains that rhythm is important, and therefore it is often necessary to learn both speed and accuracy at the same time.
Chapter nine deals with the stages of skill development. The author shows that it is important for a trainee to continue to practise, even when he or she can perform a task relatively easily. The design of exercises and the preparation for instruction are dealt with in the next two chapters. The following chapter then explains how to deliver instruction effectively.
Chapter thirteen deals with talking to trainees. It compares effective and ineffective instructors.
Chapter fourteen shows how important it is to prevent trainees making errors, because errors can become learned habits. The instructor should provide on-the-job verbal guidance, both before a trainee performs a task and also during the performance.
Trainees will make errors; chapter fifteen deals with their correction using feedback. Four styles of feedback are compared: objective and subjective, positive and negative. The author shows how easy it is to unintentionally erode a trainee's confidence by using subjective comments. For example, "That's good" is positive, but it is also subjective. It doesn't specify exactly what is good. After a while trainees begin to discount this type of comment. Conversely, "That's not right" is negative and it is subjective. The trainee needs to know exactly what is not right. The instructor should use objective comments (ideally positive), which give factual information to the trainee. For example, "Over the last two weeks you've gained fourteen sales out of twenty"
Chapter sixteen summarises the instruction process. It assumes that an instructor will be present and can intervene when a trainee is practising.
In some cases, the instructor cannot be with the trainee (for example, when a trainee is visiting a client) or cannot intervene (perhaps the trainee is dealing with a client). Chapter seventeen shows how to prepare a trainee and how to correct errors in this case.
The final chapter of the book is an instructor's toolkit. This is a useful summary of the skills, techniques and activities that have been presented in the book.
Although the book is based on research, it is easy to read. Each chapter contains a bibliography. These could be improved by including clear references from the text to the appropriate source.
Terms such as instructor are used with a very specific meaning in the text. Therefore, a brief glossary would make a useful addition to the book.
The author's intention is to help people who instruct (or who want to instruct). How useful is this book to practising instructors? They will find useful insights, techniques and ideas, but there is also much material that is elementary, and which may detract from the more meaty aspects of the book. For example, chapter three deals with the usefulness of instructors. The summary of the research states what is obvious to anyone who has trained:
- Trainees who receive no instruction do not progress as quickly as trainees who do receive instruction
- The physical presence of an instructor is not sufficient. The instructor must be doing useful instructional activities if the trainees are to learn
Possibly, it's unfair to shoot the messenger. However, this sort of information is probably self-evident to anyone who has instructed.
Another example of overkill for the experienced instructor appears in chapter five, where the author takes nearly a page to show that a trainee's academic knowledge and his or her ability to perform an action are quite different.
Whilst this book is likely to help both people who are very new to instruction and people who have more experience of instruction, the latter group may be rather irritated by the very elementary content of some sections and the author's labouring of some points.
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