Making Sense of Online Learning: A Guide for Beginners and the Truly Skeptical [Paperback]

Patti Shank (Author), Amy Sitze (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0787969826 | ISBN-13: 978-0787969820 | Publication Date: April 16, 2004 | Edition: 1

If you need quick, targeted baseline knowledge about using technology for teaching and learning, Making Sense of Online Learning is for you. This practical, no-nonsense primer will help you understand how online learning technologies work and how they fit into your organization. You’ll gain a working knowledge of important topics such as design, infrastructure, and evaluation and the confidence to make informed decisions that will help your learners and organization thrive. Since information about online learning changes at Internet speed, the book is supported with a dedicated Web site (www.learningpeaks.com/msoll/) filled with up-to-the-minute suggestions for tools and resources.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Anyone new to online teaching should read this book before they start planning instruction. Dr. Shanks does a comprehensive job of documenting basic issues and common sense decisions from the vantage point of an experienced online instructor."
—Carol Kamin, MS, EdD, director of medicaleducation R&D, Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine

“One of the most sensible, innovative approaches to online learning today, Making Sense of Online Learning is an important book, ideal both for new and experienced instructional designers. Instead of locking the learner into boring  page turners and multiple choice questions, Patty Shank provides a blueprint for how to exploit technology to enable innovation. No hype, no phony panacea, just down-to-earth clear writing and excellent examples you can apply to both corporate and academic education.  A tremendous amount can be learned from this common sense ground-breaking work.”
—Leslie J. Freeman, head of e-Learning, Morgan Stanley

“Patti's engaging and no-nonsense style will give anyone the knowledge needed to become confident practitioner in the world of online learning. If you need a hurry-up entry into online learning, Patti Shank's book is just the ticket. She successfully integrates the key aspects of online learning into a comprehensive and readable guide that will give anyone the tools of the trade in short order.”
—Cynthia S. Wehmer, CPT, IT Training Manager, Coors Brewing Company

“This is the clearest and most comprehensive look at what instructional designers, faculty and administrators alike need to know about the complex and changing environment of technology enhanced learning that I have found. A must-read for the learning organization of today, corporate or academic.”
—Ellen K. Waterman, director of distance learning, Regis University SPS, Denver

From the Back Cover

If you need quick, targeted baseline knowledge about using technology for teaching and learning, Making Sense of Online Learning is for you. This practical, no-nonsense primer will help you understand how online learning technologies work and how they fit into your organization. You’ll gain a working knowledge of important topics such as design, infrastructure, and evaluation and the confidence to make informed decisions that will help your learners and organization thrive. Since information about online learning changes at Internet speed, the book is supported with a dedicated Web site (www.learningpeaks.com/msoll/) filled with up-to-the-minute suggestions for tools and resources.

“The online learning people promised a revolutionary breakthrough and went about replicating the textbook and the classroom. They hyped the bells and whistles and neglected basic instructional design. Clients bought rigid proprietary platforms that violated all principles of systematic change. This book responds to my concerns: The focus should be on learning and performance improvement and not on the technology. Just take a look at the table of contents. I would have outlined the book exactly the same way. But Patti and Amy write with greater wit and competency.”
—Sivasailam “Thiagi” Thiagarajan, resident mad scientist, Workshops by Thiagi, Inc.

“The information in this book will help you make informed decisions about using online learning in your organization.”
—Saul Carliner, assistant professor of educational technology, Concordia University, Montreal

“Shank and Sitze give thoughtful, ingenious insights about big topics like design and learner needs. They also know how to get down into the weeds to explain the great features of a tool.”
—Kirsti Aho, director of content and curriculum, Macromedia Education

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Pfeiffer; 1 edition (April 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787969826
• ISBN-13: 978-0787969820
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #963,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Intro and Overview. Rest Easy--You Can Do It !, May 6, 2004

By 

William Corsair "Will" (Leavenworth County, KS USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Making Sense of Online Learning: A Guide for Beginners and the Truly Skeptical (Paperback)

The book is an excellent introduction to both online learning and to the basics of solid instructional design. The old saying, "Garbage in, garbage out" is still relevant. If you don't do a good job of understanding the "who, what, and why," then understanding the "how" of online learning won't do you much good. Fortunately, Shank and Sitze demystify all of it.

Witty, comforting, and with lots of charts, diagrams, checklists, and examples, the book offers a wealth of information--but without overloading the reader.

As a long time trainer, instructional designer, and web course developer I still learned from this fabulous book. Patti has a real flair for making technical topics understandable and giving readers the confidence that they, too, can do it.

Now that prices for technical expertise and software have come down from the stratospheric altitudes of the late '90s dotcom craziness, developing online learning is more affordable than ever.

The book is a joy to read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is your first easy step in a journey of 1000 miles., May 12, 2004

By 

Anthony L. Full (Broomfield, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Sense of Online Learning: A Guide for Beginners and the Truly Skeptical (Paperback)

Patti and Amy have taken on a subject that is thought of as being complex and intimidating and have made it accessible. This book is a great start to build your confidence if you are interested in starting or have been assigned the task of developing e-Learning courses. Their expertise is apparent from the beginning as they gently guide you through this foreign world.
-The companion website is worth ten times the value of the book. There is so much reference info on that website that you could be reading for days. I will continue to use this as my primary starting point. Sorry Google!
-The "Bottomline" segments and chapter conclusions are a worthwhile synopsis that contain good hints.
-There is a good history of e-learning.
-The Terminology and Acronyms will quickly make you feel like an old pro.
-References to look at future and previous chapters are helpful.
-Great Q's for "Are we Ready..." Table 1.2
-Very Good Q's to ask LMS/LCMS providers.
-Good thought provoking evaluation Q's on p.128

Here are the areas that were slightly confusing for me;

-Some of the tables and figures especially, Table 2.5 and Fig 4.1, were a bit hard to comprehend. At times it seemed that tables/figures were added because that is how the academic world works or the editor wanted something more.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Online Learning. This is your first easy step in a journey of 1000 miles.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars E-learning for Dummies?, June 22, 2004

By 

Clark Aldrich (Wiscasset, Maine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Sense of Online Learning: A Guide for Beginners and the Truly Skeptical (Paperback)

The audience for this book is the person who wants to take their first step into traditional online learning. And by traditional, I mean self-contained courses and the management systems that support them (as opposed to deeper simulations or integration with knowledge management or ERP or CRM systems, etc., etc.,) For these people, the tone, the content, and the sympathy are dead on. Before going to a conference, or reading any deeper books, or subscribing to any of the current magazines, or meeting with your boss or advisor, this should be required reading.