e-Learning by Design [Paperback]

William Horton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0787984256 | ISBN-13: 978-0787984250 | Edition: 1

From William Horton -- a world renowned expert with more than thirty-five years of hands-on experience creating networked-based educational systems -- comes the next-step resource for e-learning training professionals. Like his best-selling book Designing Web-Based Training, this book is a comprehensive resource that provides practical guidance for making the thousand and one decisions needed to design effective e-learning.

e-Learning by Design includes a systematic, flexible, and rapid design process covering every phase of designing e-learning. Free of academic jargon and confusing theory, this down-to-earth, hands-on book is filled with hundreds of real-world examples and case studies from dozens of fields.

"Like the book's predecessor (Designing Web-based Training), it deserves four stars and is a must read for anyone not selling an expensive solution. -- From Training Media Review, by Jon Aleckson, www.tmreview.com, 2007

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

From William Horton—a world renowned expert with more than thirty-five years of hands-on experience creating networked-based educational systems—comes the next-step resource for e-learning training professionals. Like his best-selling book Designing Web-Based Training, this book is a comprehensive resource that provides practical guidance for making the thousand and one decisions needed to design effective e-learning.

E-Learning by Design includes a systematic, flexible, and rapid design process covering every phase of designing e-learning.?Free of academic jargon and confusing theory, this down-to-earth, hands-on book is filled with hundreds of real-world examples and case studies from dozens of fields.

E-Learning by Design guides both industrial trainers and academic educators in:

• Inventing engaging learning activities
• Targeting specific goals
• Designing learning games and simulations
• Writing online tests and assessments

It also helps readers select media, ensure reuse of content, specify learning objects, design the display, and make courses navigable. But wait, there's more! E-Learning by Design goes beyond traditional e-learning to include guidance on creating electronic job aids, virtual classroom activities, and mobile learning for PDAs and SmartPhones.

E-Learning by Design is jam-packed with best practices you can apply right away, using tools you already own.This is the guide trainers and educators need on their journey to creating successful e-learning programs.

About the Author

William Horton is a leading e-learning consultant and president of William Horton Consulting where he advises large and small companies in developing online training and information strategies. He is the author of Leading E-Learning, Evaluating E-Learning, Using E-Learning, and Designing Web-Based Training and the coauthor of E-Learning Tools and Technologies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Pfeiffer; 1 edition (July 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787984256
• ISBN-13: 978-0787984250
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #339,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the Best Solution Books for Elearning Problems, December 19, 2007

By 

Terrance R. Banach "Terry the book addict" (Sherman CT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: e-Learning by Design (Paperback)

This author actually was able to present detailed and effective solutions for E-Learning problems. You could sense that he had to solve similar problems. He also seemed to have encountered a broad range of real E-Learning problems, rather than simply theorize about them. The solutions made sense. In addition, Horton presented a number of well researched issues that appear to have caused problems due to frequent instructional designer beliefs that the E-media itself is good enough to cover the lack true learning assistance...... real learning assistance, that all too often is missing in many E-Learning presentations due to interaction gimmicks that offer no relationship to assisting with the learning process.

Great book! Sits now on top of my Michael Allen E-Learning books. I also liked Horton's apparent attitude that philosophizing does not solve instructional problems, but offering solid detailed solution approaches can.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nuts and bolts approach to broad arena--For those who are serious about creating great e-learning, May 26, 2008

By 

J. Brodnicki "HypnoJoe" (Hendersonville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: e-Learning by Design (Paperback)

Let's face it, most people hate the idea of e-learning. If you're interested in creating *effective* e-learning (and most people are not) and don't know where to start, this is a good place.

The book can be useful both to internal HRD departments and independent trainer/designers. Even if you don't want to design e-learning, this information can help you sort out credible from mediocre contractors and give you idea of how to work with them better.

First, Horton covers design considerations and decisions you may not think of (even if you're experienced) and ways to make e-learning come alive.

Early in the book, Horton states that the primary purposes for e-learning are do, act, and decide. Departing information is a secondary cause (and, if you think about it, sort of a waste of time if you want training to have real value and application in the workplace). This is a *great* place to start from if you're serious about creating real value with your e-learning project.

You can also get a good idea of how to use different programs (Flash, Powerpoint et al) various programs to add both punch and power to your e-learning project.

You can use this book as a guide and starting point to creating good, effective e-learning experiences. This is a major undertaking and, I think, can have real payoffs.

Horton also offers ideas for evaluation.

There is no magic bullet to this and this book doesn't pretend to offer it.

I would have liked a CD to go with it (a lot of material is available of Horton's web site).

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars eLearning designer? This book is for you., February 14, 2007

By 

Jon Aleckson (Madison, WI. USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: e-Learning by Design (Paperback)

This is an excellent book/resource for you if you are involved in eLearning in any way: manager, writer, designer, web developer. Does your eLearning development group have published instructional design and course development standards? This book can help put a framework around reaching agreement among staff and clients. Or benchmark your current standards and definitions of quality eLearning against examples found in the book. Horton's 2000 edition has been cited in academic texts. And if he wasn't so cynical about advanced degrees, we would surely be calling him Dr. Horton. Yet, that is essentially what defines Bill Horton. He the eLearning industry's Henry David Thoreau.