ASTD
Encyclopedia
The American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) is a non-profit association for workplace learning and performance professionals.
, improving human performance
, delivering training, measuring and evaluating, facilitating organizational change, managing the learning function, coaching, managing organizational knowledge
, and career planning and talent management
), and roles, and is a frame of reference for career growth and professional development. This model is a basis for ASTD’s Certified Professional in Learning and Performance) credential offered by the ASTD Certification Institute).
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They became the governing body of the association, which convened ASTD's membership in Chicago in 1945. Other local, regional, and industry-specific training groups gradually aligned with ASTD. At the 1946 convention, ASTD adopted a constitution with the goals of: raising awareness on the standards and prestige of the industrial training profession and furthering the professional’s education and development.
ASTD retained these points as their official mission, even as the profession evolved and the business world changed. In 1964, the association changed its name to the American Society for Training & Development. ASTD eventually widened its focus to connect learning and performance with business results. In 2000, the organization chose to refer to itself just by the letters ASTD, to underscore that it wanted to broaden its scope as a professional organization. It adopted the tagline, “create a world that works better.”
ASTD conducts several research projects each year on the workplace and investment in learning.
ASTD also creates career services, certificate programs, and workshops. The association also awards companies, individuals, and teams for their contributions to the field of workplace learning. Along with ISPI, ASTD offers a regional OPAL award for Team Excellence.
Membership
ASTD has an international as well as US membership base (more than 100 countries; 134 U.S. chapters; 26 global networks, and 12 global partners). The association’s membership work in various types of organizations, including government offices, and independent consultants and suppliers.Competency model
Based on findings from a 2004 Competency Study, ASTD created a competency model as a guide for its professional constituency. The model includes three tiers: foundational competencies, areas of expertise (designing learningInstructional design
Instructional Design is the practice of creating "instructional experiences which make the acquisition of knowledge and skill more efficient, effective, and appealing." The process consists broadly of determining the current state and needs of the learner, defining the end goal of instruction, and...
, improving human performance
Human performance technology
Human Performance Technology , also known as Human Performance Improvement , "uses a wide range of interventions that are drawn from many other disciplines, including total quality management, process improvement, behavioral psychology, instructional systems design, organizational development, and...
, delivering training, measuring and evaluating, facilitating organizational change, managing the learning function, coaching, managing organizational knowledge
Organizational learning
Organizational learning is an area of knowledge within organizational theory that studies models and theories about the way an organization learns and adapts....
, and career planning and talent management
Talent management
Talent management refers to the skills of attracting highly skilled workers, of integrating new workers, and developing and retaining current workers to meet current and future business objectives. Talent management in this context does not refer to the management of entertainers...
), and roles, and is a frame of reference for career growth and professional development. This model is a basis for ASTD’s Certified Professional in Learning and Performance) credential offered by the ASTD Certification Institute).
About ASTD
ASTD was founded in 1944. The organization began in New Orleans during a training committee meeting of the American Petroleum Institute in 1942. The following year, a group of 15 “training men” met for the first board meeting of the American Society of Training Directors in Baton Rouge, LouisianaBaton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
.
They became the governing body of the association, which convened ASTD's membership in Chicago in 1945. Other local, regional, and industry-specific training groups gradually aligned with ASTD. At the 1946 convention, ASTD adopted a constitution with the goals of: raising awareness on the standards and prestige of the industrial training profession and furthering the professional’s education and development.
ASTD retained these points as their official mission, even as the profession evolved and the business world changed. In 1964, the association changed its name to the American Society for Training & Development. ASTD eventually widened its focus to connect learning and performance with business results. In 2000, the organization chose to refer to itself just by the letters ASTD, to underscore that it wanted to broaden its scope as a professional organization. It adopted the tagline, “create a world that works better.”
ASTD conducts several research projects each year on the workplace and investment in learning.
Conferences and awards
ASTD hosts three annual conferences in different cities around the U.S.: International Conference & Exposition, ASTD TechKnowledge Conference and EXPO, and Telling Ain’t Training Conference. Additionally, each fall ASTD hosts the American Leader's Conference (ALC), typically in October. This conference is held to bring leaders of local ASTD chapters together in one place and discuss how to better lead the organization on a local level. This year, the conference will be held on October 14-15 in Washington, DC at the Marriott at Crystal City. The pre-conference is on October 13th and will focus on legislative issues facing the learning and development field. The full conference will feature numerous breakout sessions from individuals in the learning and development field from around the country and a keynote speech from the president of ASTD, Tony Bingham.ASTD also creates career services, certificate programs, and workshops. The association also awards companies, individuals, and teams for their contributions to the field of workplace learning. Along with ISPI, ASTD offers a regional OPAL award for Team Excellence.