Making Instruction Work: Of Skillbloomers: A Step-By-Step Guide to Designing and Developing Instruction That Works

Book Description

Making Instruction Work simplifies the complicated task of developing instruction and gives you practical procedures for increasing its effectiveness and efficiency. It takes you step-by-step through the design and development process, providing an invaluable overview of the steps critical to achieving your instructional goals. Making Instruction Work will help you:

- Find feasible solutions to performance problems
- Develop instruction that matches the needs of your audience
- Plan evaluation of the results of instruction
- Improve existing courses
- Ensure that your students become competent in the skills you are teaching

Customer Reviews:

Making Instruction Work.......2007-06-11

For anything related to training, I find Mager to be the best source. He speaks plainly and his books are easy to read.

Excellent Instructional Development Book.......2000-08-29

Mager has written an outstanding book for the beginner to intermediate trainer/curriculum developer. He addresses the skills and procedures necessary for designing instruction. The book is an enjoyable read, which guides you through each step of design, development, implementation and evaluation!

Mager - The Master of Simplicity and Common Sense.......2000-06-13

Dr. Robert F. Mager may be the master of understatement. When you read his precise recipe for creating successful instruction, you are left with the realization that your life could have been much simpler had you encountered this wisdom earlier in your existence. Dr. Mager is not recounting some brand new theory or blinding discovery. He is communicating a logical and systematic process for defining what instruction can do. In the process, he helps you determine if instruction is the solution for your performance problem. He shows you how to set goals, identify task objectives and task sequences, identify the skills and characteristics of the persons you are teaching, and develop and refine your instruction into an effective change agent.

A no-nonsense guide for training program development.......1999-10-11

An easy reading reference for training professionals. It breaks down into simple terms, the complex process of developing training.

The 1988 edition of this book was the course reference text in my college classes on "training development, implementation, and evaluation ". I am still working in the training industry, and refer the the book frequently.

Book Description

From Robert E. and Mary Lee to Ulysses S. and Julia Grant, Intimate Strategies of the Civil War examines the marriages of twelve prominent military commanders, highlighting the impact wives had on their famous husbands' careers. Carol K. Bleser and Lesley J. Gordon assemble an impressive array of leading scholars to explore the marriages of six Confederate and six Union commanders. Contributors reveal that, for many of these men, the matrimonial bond was the most important relationship in their lives, one that shaped (and was shaped by) their military experience. In some cases, the commanders' spouses proved relentless and skillful promoters of their husbands' careers. Jessie Fremont drew on all of her connections as the daughter of former Senator Thomas Hart Benton to aid her modestly talented husband John. Others bolstered their military spouses in less direct ways. For example, Ulysses S. Grant's relationship with Julia (a Southerner and former slave owner herself) kept him anchored in stormy times. Here, too, are tense and tempestuous pairings, such William Tecumseh Sherman and his wife Ellen--his foster sister before becoming his wife--and Jefferson Davis's fascinatingly complex bond with Varina, further complicated by the hostile rumors about the two in Richmond society. Throughout, these historians paint remarkably intimate portraits of their subjects, ranging from hints of sexual passion, to the wives' fierce protectiveness of their husbands' reputations, to the surprisingly frequent visits of spouses to the front lines and battlefields. Readers will see these famed men in a way that they perhaps never considered: not merely as famous leaders, but as lovers, husbands and fathers. Illuminating a frequently neglected but extremely significant side of military history, Intimate Strategies is a must-read for anyone seeking fresh perspective on some of the war's best known commanders and a landmark contribution to Civil War history.

Customer Reviews:

very insightful.......2003-01-08

Carol Bleser and Lesley Gordon did a wonderful job with this book,delving into the personal lives of several famous civil war figures, along with black and white photographs of the couples.Some of the marriages in the book include the Shermans, Grants, Lee's, Custer's , Stonewall Jacksons, and many others. With so many figures from the civil war this book gives a wonderful overview of some of the more famous marriages and there family life. With so many figures to choose from I think the authors did a suberb job with the couples they featured. This is a book not to be missed.

very insightful.......2003-01-08

Fascinating insights re personal lives of Civil War leaders.......2001-11-22

This collection of twelve essays explores the personal lives of prominent Civil War military commanders and their wives. The writers paint vivid pictures of how family life and the war were interwoven. The most striking thing to me is the great variation between the relationships of the various commanders and their wives, all within the Victorian societal structure. I think this book makes great reading for everyone, regardless of a person's interest in history.

Intimate Strategies of the Civil War: Military Commanders and Their Wives.(Book Review): An article from: Journal of Southern History

Average customer rating:

Intimate Strategies of the Civil War: Military Commanders and Their Wives.(Book Review): An article from: Journal of Southern History
Mary Seaton Dix
Manufacturer: Southern Historical Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008DGZGC
Release Date: 2005-07-31

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Southern History, published by Southern Historical Association on May 1, 2003. The length of the article is 859 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Intimate Strategies of the Civil War: Military Commanders and Their Wives.(Book Review)
Author: Mary Seaton Dix
Publication: Journal of Southern History (Refereed)
Date: May 1, 2003
Publisher: Southern Historical Association
Volume: 69 Issue: 2 Page: 437(3)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Foreign Policy in Focus, published by Interhemispheric Resource Center on August 6, 2001. The length of the article is 837 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Andean Regional Initiative: A Policy Fated to Fail.(Brief Article)
Author: Gina Amatangelo
Publication: Foreign Policy in Focus (Magazine/Journal)
Date: August 6, 2001
Publisher: Interhemispheric Resource Center
Volume: 6 Issue: 29 Page: 1

Article Type: Brief Article

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Average customer rating:

Andean Regional Initiative.
Albert Tavidze
Manufacturer: Nova Science Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N675AY

Book Description

Once upon a lifetime ago, I was a "roadie" (a sound and lighting technician) and had the unique experience of working with rock stars, jazz performers, Disco and R&B artists from around the world. My behind the scenes stories contained in this book are all true. Some of the stories are exciting, with high drama, and unexpected plot twists. Other stories are very sad, oddly bizarre, or even incredibly ironic. Mixed in, on almost every page, is a large dose of humor to keep the reading light. Grab your backstage pass and hop on the tour bus, the show is about to start!

Customer Reviews:

Roadie- where's the story.......2006-11-10

I didn't feel the book lived up to what i thought it was going to be about.
I found it to be very boring and talking to much about lighting and things we didn't need to know about.

A Great Tour & Fantastic Trip!.......2006-01-12

From anyone who has ever tapped their foot at a single concert to those involved or employed in the music industry, this is a book you will truly enjoy from cover to cover. I purposely slowed down the reading, as I did not want the book to end and could not put it down. You cannot help but become casual friends with Karl's acquaintances, while sharing the joys of his successes and cringing at the failures, both on, off and back stage! The author does a great job in really personalizing what some might consider a glamorous star crossed occupation, and shows what devotion it takes to really make things happen right. Especially when even the smallest problem can ruin a wonderful concert experience. When Karl shares with us the occasional spotlight that does indeed at times shine his way, you'll find yourself pumping your fist in excitement for our hero!

I think the big appeal is the "just like me"
factor. The common guy can relate to the stories of work as well as personal challenges. Initially one thinks, 'oh, man this guy gets women at the drop of a hat...his stories will be wild'. But glamorizing that can make folks feel kind of left out as if they really missed out on something. However, with Karl's true, down to earth adventures, and candid revelations, surely everyone can totally relate and compare similar circumstances to their own. You'll find out that the author is, well, "just like me!"
It takes a special writing flare to have that come across
as well as the author presents his stories.

An added bonus for those who attended concerts during the mid and late '70's, is that, chances are, Karl worked on a tour in which you probably attended one of the individual shows. I documented at least 4 myself. Thanks, Karl, for bringing back memories and providing an entertaining and informative glimpse at into an often misunderstood, yet beloved industry.

Humor at it's best.......2006-01-06

I loved the book. It was entertaining, cleverly written, and showed the inside life of a roadie from the 70s. It makes you almost want to be one for a day!! Great story, Karl. I hope you will consider a sequel.

Karl, Karl, Karl! Please find an editor!.......2005-12-12

The market for this book extends well beyond Karl's colleagues on and off the road. Roadies and local hands alike will find themselves nodding and laughing throughout; music fans will gobble up Kuenning's anecdotes of life on the other side of the curtain; mothers will cringe when they read about what really happens in their children's working world. It is an interesting and entertaining read; moreover, it's a real treat to hear stories from a crusty old road dog like Karl Kuenning, RFL.

However.

Karl Kuenning, RFL clearly skipped a lot of English classes when he was doing his AV thing in school. The narrative is choppy and cumbersome. He scatters parenthesis and commas around with total disregard for clarity or flow. Paragraphs often last for entire pages. I even found some blatant spelling errors.

Most of us would be wide-eyed and silent if we were listening to these stories over a beer in a bar somewhere, or perched on a road case backstage between soundcheck and the show. As it is, though, their fascination factor is severely diminished by having to wade through the morass of really bad English.

Now, I *know* there are roadies out there who know about apostrophes, semicolons, run-on sentences, and composition. Karl, we all love you dearly, but you should have found one of those roadies to polish this book before publishing it.

Roadie: A True Story- review by John D.......2005-10-22

I initially bought this book because I am a LONG-TIME Jean-Luc Ponty fan. Well, the book is even better than that. First of all, if you're a fan of Jean-Luc, buy the book. I really wanted to know more about JLP as a person and this really helped. Second: there are a TON of fascinating tidbits about musicians from MANY genres. Third: this book is written in such a fashion that it's like sitting with the author and having him tell stories. Fourth: if you're interested in some of the logistics of how a band gets over the road, or ever contemplated doing something like this, buy the book. Fifth: the book evolves in such a way that the author offers some "school of hard knocks" lessons that hopefully will open some eyes, especially of those who are impressionable (in other words, it's better to learn from other's mistakes, if possible). Sixth: the author is candid about some personal challenges, acknowledges what that led to, and ultimately overcame them and is now better for it. A mini-epic/picaresque, with elements of other types of writing-and all of it VERY readable and enjoyable. Lastly: if you can get it from the author, he will personally inscribe it. What more could one ask for? HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Average customer rating:
Pig Boy's Wicked Bird: A Memoir
Doug Crandell
Manufacturer: Chicago Review Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000LH2OD8

Average customer rating:

Humorous and Poignant.........a must read!!

The Three D's

Peculiar Power and Distinct Nostalgia

Indiana Wants Me, But I Can't Go Back There

Good writing does exist!

Pig Boy's Wicked Bird: A Memoir
Doug Crandell
Manufacturer: Chicago Review Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Authors | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Midwest | Regional U.S. | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Family & Childhood | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Indiana | State & Local | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1556525524

Book Description

This gritty tragicomic memoir is set in one memorable year—1976, the Bicentennial, when Jimmy Carter ran for president and seven-year-old Doug Crandell lost two fingers in a farming accident. More than anything, Doug wants to shed his nickname, Pig Boy, and grow up to be a hog man like his father. His older brother Derrick reads pulp novels to him each night as he soaks his remaining fingers in Epsom salts. His brothers urge him to “flip the Wicked Bird” any time another child makes fun of his “lobster-red hand.” Doug shares his summer of healing in Wabash, Indiana, with humans and animals who’ve suffered life-changing traumas: a brutal grandfather gentled by stroke, a deaf dog with a deadly taste for pig’s ears, a tough-love mother coping with depression, a bevy of runt piglets saved from extermination. This is a story of love, loss, healing, and a family’s relation with the land they love and know that they will lose.

Customer Reviews:

Humorous and Poignant.........a must read!!.......2007-04-06

I grew up in neighboring Illinois not far from `Pig Boy'. So, in reading this lovely memoir I found myself transported back into my own childhood memories of growing up. I was tired of reading at the time and therefore hesitant to give this memoir a chance. When I finished, I found that the author had reignited my passion for reading. This memoir will make you want to read again...to write again. The author truly captured the very humorous and.... yes poignant business of growing up, families and the unique value that every person brings to this world. Get this book, you will be glad you did.

The Three D's.......2005-05-31

First of all, I really enjoyed this book. I was skeptical going in, thinking it was just another outbreak in the rash of memoirs that has erupted on the best seller lists. This one is different. On the surface, it's a coming of age story, a story about self worth, self awareness, and the impact of family (the family in question being "the seven D's" - all of Doug Crandell's brothers, sisters, and even his parents have names that start with D.) But it turns out that what the story is really about is the three D's: disability, disfigurement, and just being different.

Two of the author's fingers are essentially severed in a childhood farming accident, leaving the boy disabled, disfigured and different. This leads to an awareness and an appreciation of those three D's -- that turn out to be everywhere in young Crandell's world: his mother who is "no longer a woman" due to a hysterectomy, a man with cerebral palsy who connects with the author, the runt pigs destined to be destroyed but saved by Crandell, a grandmother with a humped back, a sister with scoliosis, even the oldest brother is left changed by a never fully explained abduction reminiscent of Mystic River. (Most everyone in the book is marked in some critical, defining, and not always obvious way. Some, like the landlord's son, are, to quote John Lennon, crippled inside.)

Sherwood Anderson and his collection of grotesqueries, Winesburg, Ohio is the influence pointed out by Doug Crandell for helping him sort out his confused world of being marked different as well as leading him on the path to becoming a writer. What I noticed were the influences of William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, and in particular Carson McCullers. For a story of the Midwest, Pig Boy's Wicked Bird has a distinct Southern Gothic feel. (One person's physical characteristics are described as "crooked," "twisted," and "warped" in the space of a single paragraph). Like The Member of the Wedding, or even Truman Capote's Other Voices, Other Rooms, these disabled, disfigured, and different people will live with you forever.

Peculiar Power and Distinct Nostalgia.......2004-10-16

There is a distinct nostalgia in Pig Boy's Wicked Bird. The peculiar power in this depiction of an American family is relevant to anytime, place, or condition. The author uses beautiful language and rhythmical sentences to creat a compact telling of this humorous and poignant memoir. The business of living can be lonely. The reader can make profitable use of the insights illuminated throughout this story.

Indiana Wants Me, But I Can't Go Back There.......2004-10-15

Doug Crandall, former little Pig Boy of the Heartland, brings us a heart-rendering, oftentimes snorting food-out-the-nose-from-laughing memoir of friendship with farm animals and dealing with life's tragedys. Poetically written by the now grown up Mr. Crandall, even city girls like me can appreciate his love of family, roots and Jimmy Carter. If you love crusty old men, goofy dogs and little piglets, you'll love this story as I did.

Good writing does exist!.......2004-10-14

There is a wealth of people out there who have grown up in a family that doesn't seem just right. Television for a lack of decent material exploits the dysfunctional family as it exaggerates the flaws of family life in America. "Pig Boy's Wicked Bird" by Doug Crandell tells a different side of the story. Yes, life is full of absurdity and tragedy but what comes out of this book is a recollection of our own past growing up and as weird as it seemed...it was wonderful too. Intelligently written and a delight to read I give it 2 thumbs up and a nub for good measure! This is a great life story!

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