e-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning [Hardcover]

Ruth C. Clark (Author), Richard E. Mayer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 16, 2011 | ISBN-10: 0470874309 | ISBN-13: 978-0470874301 | Edition: 3

Thoroughly revised and updated, this third edition of the best-selling book offers a comprehensive review of multimedia learning for both users and designers. The book contains design principles that are written to increase learning while debunking many popular theories about good design. The book also contains the most current research and includes new topics (e-learning for educators, new delivery technologies, social media, and more) and offers helpful guidelines. The book’s many examples: create working multimedia that inform the research guidelines; have been update to include real-world screen captures; extend principles to illustrate their application to synchronous e-learning tools.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Since the first edition of e-Learning and the Science of Instruction was published in 2002, e-learning has become more popular than ever. Organizations continue to turn to e-solutions to save both travel costs and instructional time.

Ruth Colvin Clark and Richard E. Mayer have thoroughly revised and updated the third edition of their best-selling book to meet the needs of today's designers, developers, and consumers. e-Learning and the Science of Instruction offers a comprehensive review of multimedia learning for both users and designers. The book's research-based information on design and development goes a long way in preparing effective e-learning solutions.

e-Learning and the Science of Instruction contains design principles that are written to increase learning while debunking many popular theories about good design. The book also includes a wealth of new topics such as e-learning for educators, new delivery technologies, and evidence-based training. Designers, developers, and consumers of e-learning can use the guidelines outlined in this practical resource to ensure that courseware meets human psychological learning requirements. The book includes best practices for communicating content with visuals, audio, and text; avoiding extraneous media effects; design examples and exercises that help learners build their skills and sharpen their problem-solving facilities; evaluation of simulations and games that are relevant to instructional goals; and much more.

The third edition also offers new storyboards from an asynchronous lesson on Excel, a synchronous lesson on Excel, and an asynchronous lesson on pharmaceutical sales.

From the Back Cover

Praise for The Third Edition of e-Learning and the Science of Instruction

"If you design online learning, e-Learning and the Science of Instruction is a 'must read.' Unlike all the pontificating and conjecture that's been published about elearning, this important work details the evidence-based findings that provide practical guidelines for effective online instructional design. For me, this book is the 'bible' of our profession."
—Peter Orton, Ph.D., IBM Center for Advanced Learning

"The partnership between Ruth Clark and Richard Mayer in writing successive editions of e-Learning and the Science of Instruction has provided us with one of the most important collaborations in our discipline. Their ability to communicate complex concepts in clear, indeed sparkling prose is unrivalled. In e-Learning and the Science of Instruction, we have a book for everyone including students, professional instructional designers and researchers."
—John Sweller, professor, School of Education, University of New South Wales

"For the experienced instructional designer, having this supportive research provides the rationale needed to obtain consensus from a training development team."
—David L. Bennett, senior training program developer, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding

"Graduate students, undergraduate students, or employees responsible for designing and developing educational software will benefit from e-Learning and the Science of Instruction. It opens your eyes to interesting ideas that you have never thought of when designing an e-course."
—Thair Hamtini, chairman of the computer information systems department, The University of Jordan

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: Pfeiffer; 3 edition (August 16, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470874309
• ISBN-13: 978-0470874301
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 1.3 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,219 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #64 in Books > Education & Reference > Schools & Teaching > Computers & Technology
  • #73 in Books > Computers & Technology > Business & Management > Manager's Guides to Computing

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm already using what I learned in this book February 1, 2012

By David Richards

Format:Hardcover

I just finished reading the book "e-Learning and the Science of Instruction" from cover to cover. I can't say that I read many books that comprehensively nor as carefully. My highlighter was busy!
What makes this book so very good? First, it is based on scientific facts and studies, not just opinions and theories. Second, it dispels myths about e-Learning. And third, it is written in an easy to follow style.
This book has been updated, now in its 3rd Edition. I read the 3rd Edition, and the author carefully explains what has been updated. Primarily the updates are because more research has been done in regards to what is effective, and what isn't.
This is not a beginners guide to e-Learning, but an advanced level book with even a bit of statistics (which are well explained). Each chapter has a section on "what we don't know" and this shows that the field of e-Learning design and development are not a fully mature field of study.
I've already put into practice some of the things I read in this book!
Highly recommended!
David Richards, web-master,[...]

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best up-to-date resource on e-Learning Supported by research November 5, 2011

By Kris Thayer

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am an M.Ed. student in Learning and Technology and I have been purchasing and reading just about everything I can get my hands on about Instructional Design and e-Learning. This is hands-down the best comprehensive resource I've read to date and is so timely to include new research supporting the principles presented. I have other Ruth Clark and Richard Mayer books (Graphics for Learning, Multimedia Principle etc.) and I can see that there is information pulled from those books and consolidated into this one. I am so appreciating how the information has been combined and integrated together which has really helped me plan for repurposing an 8-hour intructor-led course into an e-learning course, using their well presented ideas. I had skimmed the 2nd edition at work and still decided to purchase this 3rd edition and I'm glad I did. Five years is a long time in this industry for changes and learning about new research.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Up to date - good reference book February 25, 2013

By D. D. Tharp

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Returning to academia after a few years of being out of the game for a few years.
I needed a book to update my educational technology and e-learning knowledge without proclaiming technology is the answer to elearning vs solid instructional design principles.

The book adheres sound instructional technology and design while providing the reader with updated information on Web 2.0 as it relates to elearning. The book was a good read, the references back and forth on how to use, design and facilitate elearning was very useful.
I was able to quickly bring my knowledge back into the current decade/year and make good use of the information as I designed faculty development modules for our professors as we expand our online, social media and blackboard integration into the classroom and across the learning spectrum.