The Handbook of Work Based Learning

'...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