Designing Successful e-Learning, Michael Allen's Online Learning Library: Forget What You Know About Instructional Design and Do Something Interesting (Michael Allen's E-Learning Library) (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: designing instruction, motivational learning experiences, intrinsic feedback, Don't Know, Stages of Change, Designing Outside the Box (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The theoretical literature on learning and growth can be difficult to master and even more challenging to integrate into e-learning, but Michael has made this easy for all of us. He explains this thinking in clear and accessible language, amplifies the theories with research results, and describes popular approaches by applying these theories to learning and growth. Taking the illustrations even further into the field of e-learning design, he offers useful scenarios and practical examples of how these theories can be employed in online learning programs, providing readers with concrete ideas to leverage them in their own work.” --Nick van Dam, global chief learning officer for Deloitte and founder and chairman, e-Learning For Kids Foundation (www.e-learningforkids.org)

 “Here, through research and examples, Allen delivers vivid ways to realize the promise of e-learning.”--Allison Rossett, professor of educational technology, San Diego State University

“While its target audience is instructional designers, this book should also be required reading for all training managers seeking guidelines on implementing world-class training. Allen provides bridges the gap from theory to practice on both training and educational programs. His guidance is as applicable to classroom-based as it is to e-learning based training.”--Patty Crowell, director, Global Education Services, LSI Logic Corporation

 “Our sales/service performance has greatly improved due to the ideas and processes in Michael Allen's books. They not only solidified our e-learning practices, but enhanced our blended learning skills as well.”--Dave Hooker, vice president, Training and Program Development Institutional Sector, Ecolab Inc.

Product Description

This is the second volume of six in Michael Allen’s e-Learning Library—a comprehensive collection of proven techniques for creating e-learning applications that achieve targeted behavioral outcomes through meaningful, memorable, and motivational learning experiences. This book examines common instructional design practices with a critical eye and recommends substituting success rather than tradition as a guide. Drawing from theory, research, and experience in learning and behavioral change, the author provides a framework for addressing a broader range of learner needs and achieving superior performance outcomes.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Pfeiffer; 1 edition (May 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787982997
• ISBN-13: 978-0787982997
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #149,006 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good content if you are looking for basics, January 8, 2008

By	armchairinterviews.com (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

The second book in Michael Allen's series on E-Learning jumps right into the design aspect of E-Learning. The book assumes that you have read the first book in the series and is taking you along the path to the next logical step. It goes into more depth on the skills necessary not only to design a successful E-Learning program but any training or instructional program.

The author is writes in a very familiar style and tone. Reading the book feels more like a conversation with the author than a standard instructional text, which, in keeping with the theme of the book, makes a certain amount of sense. It takes a little getting used to, but once past the feeling of familiarity, the ideas were presented very well.

The subtitle: Forget what you know about instructional design and do something interesting, is the key aspect of the book. The author gives many examples of the tried-and-true and boring training and instructional programs that are used today. There are several key elements necessary in effective Instructional Design. The author suggest, and rightly so, that instructional programs need to be Meaningful, Memorable, and Motivational. Within each element there are four factors involved: feedback, activity, challenge, and context. When the design encompasses all of these elements and factors, it is useful, functioning design. Instructional programs that fail in any one category tend to fail overall.

Several real-world examples are used to help the reader understand the concepts that are being conveyed. The author gives examples of each key and factor throughout the book to drive home the concepts presented on Instructional Design.

As a basic book on training and instructional design, this book does a good job in getting key points across and holds some components and interesting ideas in training and development, applicable to E-learning and other areas.

Armchair Interviews says: Good basic information.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars E-learning isn't so different, July 5, 2007

By	Paul S. Safyan - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Although Allen says,"Forget everything you know," much of what he describes here is good instructional design in any context. What's unique is that he makes the book interactive. He teases out certain instructional components, like incidental learning, that have been alluded to in other books and fleshes out how to be more purposeful about these components. He also refers within the text to good examples of this in other literature, making it easy to "go after" a point that rings a bell for the reader right away.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great E-learning Resource, November 17, 2009

By	Alexander Raymond (Boulder, CO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book over a year ago but haven't yet written a review.

This is a practical, hands-on book for those who are in the training business. Whether you currently build e-learning courses or are looking to, this is a good resource for both background knowledge and helpful tips.

The author has deep experience and authority in the field of online training and it shows because the examples and case studies are detailed and well-presented. The flow of the book is clear and oriented toward readers who are already familiar with e-learning.

I agree with another reviewer who said that there isn't as much new in the book as the title may suggest, but this is still a good resource that should be part of your e-learning knowledge base.