Programmed Training in a London Store.

The article focuses on occupational training programs for sales assistants in a retail store in London. The program consisted of 40 teaching frames together with a set of graded practice bills. It included instructions on how to fill in a bill, on the cash and despatch systems, and on the use of the delivery guide. Each item was presented on a separate piece of paper of the same size as the bill form because these forms were used at various points in the program. Correct answers were given on separate sheets immediately after each item. This method of presentation focuses attention on one program item at a time and it makes it easy to check responses because there is no risk of distraction by program items during the checking process. Almost all of the frames required a written response and the instructions emphasized careful checking of each response. The program was made up in the form of a pad of sheets held in a ring binder attached to a frame. Results were obtained from testing trainees after the final version of the program had become part of routine induction training.