Free Training Resources
Over the last number of years I have written columns for the CIPD and spoken at their training conference outlining some of the best web resources (free) available to Human Resource professionals in Ireland. Because the websites were so well received, I thought I might compile a top 25 for you – so as you can easily reference them in one document.
Most of the resources are free of charge, but some of the authors expect the professional courtesy of being asked for permission to use them before you do so. Please respect copyright and ask permission if appropriate. Enjoy the free resources!
Notes:
1. Star rating system based on the quality of the free resources and the ease of navigation on the site.
2. Th e websites are listed randomly.
www.thiagi.com
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This is the web site of Doctor Sivasailam Thiagarajan who for fairly obvious reasons he is known simply as Thiagi, and his web site is an excellent resource for anybody involved in training design or delivery. Th is web site is updated regularly and the ‘Freebies’ section has a large selection of games, instructional activities, puzzles, online learning activities, and creative training techniques. You can also subscribe to his monthly newsetter, Play for Performance, free of charge.
www.wilderdom.com
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This site features a ‘whole bunch’ experiential learning and education exercises. The site explores philosophy, theory and practice sides of training and education. In the section called ‘Experiential Education Practice’ you will find a treasure trove of group activities, games, exercises & initiatives. I think you will find this website useful for both outdoor and indoor activities and for adult and child alike.
www.johnsleigh.com.au
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Th is is the web site of a very innovative training professional from Australia by the name of John Sleigh. If you are you looking for that special activity that can make the difference between making a training session interactive as opposed to a lecture, then head for the free resources section of this site. Here you will also find samples of experimental exercises, energizers, checklists, and visuals that Sleigh has developed to make training “fun and interactive”. Well worth a look.
www.trainingprogateway.com
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Th is is an Irish web site from Mike Collins. It is an extensive site covering many aspects of the training function ranging from setting up a training function right across to many of the topics covered in development training programmes (and everything in between). The site also provides nice links to other useful websites on related topics. Well worth a look.
www.businessballs.com
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There are more than fi ve hundred training tools, exercises, articles, teambuilding ideas and creativity tools on this website. The good news is most of them are free. We regard this as a most necessary stop off for any consultant, trainer or managers interested in personal development, facilitation or communication.
www.reviewing.co.uk/articles
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Th is is the website of Dr. Roger Greenaway who specializes in the area of helping people to develop practical debriefing and facilitation skills. He has earned a reputation for helping educators and trainers learn how to maximize the benefi ts of active learning. Th is is typically achieved by developing dynamic approaches to the reviewing and transfer of learning. There are many free tools, ideas and resources at this site. May help your training transfer to the workplace better.
www.squarewheels.com/resources/resourcesandinfo.html
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Another ‘belter’ of a website – the home of legendry trainer Scott Simmerman. Here you will find articles and tools that will appeal to both training traditionalists and the multi sensory (Appealing to the fi ve senses) practitioners out there. A must have in your Internet ‘favourites’ library.
www.kaizen-training.com/free
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Th is is the home of Kaizen Training, an organization that has pioneered the concept of brain-friendly learning for all training initiatives. I recommend every trainer take a look at their free tips and tools. If you subscribe to their tips it will defi nitely change the way you think and execute training.
www.cub.wsu.edu/Lead/library/resources
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This is the leadership center (an American site) at the Washington State University web site. It contains free resources useful to everyone who works in a company not just in HR. For the training professional, there is theory, rationale, and exercises on subjects such as: Leadership, decision making, confl ict management, time management, teambuilding, assertiveness, stress management, - the list goes on. For the HR practitioner there are topics such as: business ethics, diversity, selfassessment, change management, recognition, mentoring, and organisational development. The site is laid out in a logical, easy to follow format. All articles/exercises can be downloaded for free provided you have adobe reader*.
www.humanpingpongball.com/Exercise.html
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This is rehearsal and workshop exercise for actors. Might be useful for those of you who do team building of who want to move a group out of their comfort zone. Might be good for getting you into a state of readiness before presenting.
www.scoutinglinks.com/GSRC/games.asp
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Have a look at their teambuilding activities. Some exercises focus on particular aspects of interpersonal communications; others are just plan fun and silliness. Good for both indoor and out door activities.
http://community.flexiblelearning.net.au/default.htm
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This is a very interesting web site from Australia. This archive of resources is drawn from member contributions, collaborations and other content developed in the Australian Flexible Learning Community between the years 2001 - 2004. The content is sorted into the areas of (a) Use of technology in learning, (b) Stuff for teachers and tutors, (c) Tools and checklists, and resources for teaching and learning, (d) Managing flexible delivery, and (e) Perspectives from around the world.
www.gomadthinking.com/down_ezine_archive.htm
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This company does exactly what it says on their tin – they help companies become more successful through helping them to think better. Their free e-zine section covers all aspects of both personal and organizational development. Have a look and see what you think!
www.corporatetraining.ie
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Corporatetraining.ie brings an exciting and informative mix of news, features and articles on training in Ireland. It is a great source of information for all the latest news and events from Ireland’s training sector. It also hosts The National Training Database, a large database dedicated to professional and business related training programmes in Ireland.
www.thetrainingoasis.com/ezine.html
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We award five stars for the content, but only three stars for the layout – which gives us it’s overall rating of four. The site is laid out like a dinner menu, which means it’s a little abstract to get your head around. Once you get the hang of the layout you will find great resources for accelerated learning.
www.tv-ark.org.uk/whatsnew/left_menu.html
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If you are struggling to design a training intervention – and need ideas or themes to jazz it up – then this site just might inspire you. The TV ARK is an online museum to television on UK channels since the 1960s. Comedy, documentary, sporting etc. – you name it it’s there. They also have a great database on TV advertisements going right back to the 1950s – (great for quizzes but watch the copyright)
http://work911.com/sitemaps/
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For nearly ten years, consultant Robert Bacal has been compiling free online resources and reference material on hundreds of topics to help in his book writing. Bacal has placed these articles on this website and the resources are there for you to peruse. Topics include performance management, workplace conflict, gender difference, communication skills, marketing and many other topics. Whilst it’s a ‘busy’ website and not particularly visually attractive – it has some decent articles if you have the patience to hunt them out. It’s definitely worth dipping into from time to time.
www.managementhelp.org/
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This is an on-line library providing free resources and articles foremost business related topics ranging from HR right across to different aspects of leadership development. The downside to the site is that it is as complex as Robert Becal’s website. However, aspects of this site will also be useful for those of you engaged in third level education as students. Only worth a look if you are a patient person!
www.ftmastering.com/mmo/index01.htm
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This is the home of the ‘Mastering Management Series’ from the Financial Times. It’s an interesting and eclectic site that includes theory and background from top business schools together with case studies and relevant stories from the FT.
www.companynewsletters.com/indexarticles.htm
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And now for something different – as Monty Python might say. Often internal communications is the responsibility of the HR function. If you have to produce an internal company magazine then this site may be of use to you. This website has a sizeable collection of tips, ideas and ‘how to’ articles for any ‘want to’ be newsletter editor!
www.nwlink.com/~donclark/
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This is the home of the ‘big dog’ – Don Clark (his words not mine). Don’t be put off by the photos of the dog on the opening page. Click on any of the topics on the coloured flow chart and enter one of the most detailed and useful learning resources on the web. Don has spanned the globe for great links to the topics of performance, knowledge, learning, and leadership. Worth a visit from time to time.
www.techexpert.mcgraw-hill.com/training/toolchest/games.html
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This is the McGraw-Hill web site. The name may be familiar to you as they are the people who brought out a series of training design books called “Games Trainers Play in the 1990s’. This site will provide you with readyto- use tools, games, and exercises on most organisational training topics. The good news is that nearly all resources in its ‘tool chest’ are free of charge.
www.glennparker.com/Freebees/freebees.html
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This is the home website of international author and consultant Glenn Parker who specializes in working with business ‘teams’. The site has lots of free content and it looks like it’s frequently updated. The site features a number of ‘freebies’ that contains an excellent annotated bibliography of books about teams, some nice icebreakers, team games and simulations, assessment tools, and an article. Overall this is a site with a strong focus on teams and team building from a recognized expert in the field. Well worth a look even if I do wish there were more.
www.hr-guide.com/
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The HR-Guide is a rapidly growing website containing hundreds of pages of information related to Human Resources. It’s topics include areas such as selection and staffing, compensation and benefits, job analysis, training, personality testing, performance appraisal, health and safety, and labour relations to name but a few. It’s a veritable treasure trove of information and it’s free! Definitely worth a look.
http://jonathan.mueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/crow/topicpersuasion.htm
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This website originated as a set of resources around the topic of Social Psychology provided by the CROW Project, which was sponsored by the Associated Colleges of Illinois. Thankfully, when the project ended they left all the resources up on the web – and now they provide the best set of free notes and tools for anybody interested in the topic of ‘influence’.
This article was kindly contributed by David Malone of Evolve training consultants (www.evolve.ie)
