E-learning Companion: A Student's Guide to Online Success [Illustrated] [Spiral-bound]

Ryan Watkins (Author), Michael Corry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 13, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0618379703 | ISBN-13: 978-0618379705 | Edition: 1

This text serves as a resource and quick-reference guide for any course that demands online technology skills. The E-Learning Companion shows students how to adapt previously mastered skills—such as time management, note taking, or critical thinking—to the online environment. Students expand their knowledge of troubleshooting and technical terminology and become more flexible learners. The book provides skills students will use throughout college and as they begin future careers.

• A spiral-bound format and smaller size make for convenient use in a campus computer lab or at home.
• Student-to-Student Tips are recommendations based on the experiences of students from around the world who have completed online course assignments and activities.
• The Glossary features new words and phrases, including essential technical lingo.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"E-Learning Companion is a comprehensive learning tool that provides a foundation for all online learners. It is an invaluable reference book that all online learners should use throughout their studies".

"The E-Learning Companion is a supplemental text that would be a great addition to any online introductory course. The Companion addresses common concerns and roadblocks distance students typically encounter: time management / procrastination, technology issues, and online student-instructor relationships".

"The E-Learning Companion provides tutorials that cover several course management systems and operating systems, making it good for students, no matter what platform they are using".

"Excellent, excellent. [The chapter exercises] provide pertinent practice that will set a strong foundation for the course. Fabulous!" --This text refers to an alternate Spiral-bound edition.

About the Author

Ryan Watkins, Ph.D., is an assistant professor with the Educational Technology Leadership Program at the George Washington University. He received his doctoral degree from Florida State University in Instructional Systems Design. Dr. Watkins has designed and taught courses (both online and in the classroom) in areas of instructional design, needs assessment, and technology management. Prior to his position at GWU, he worked as an assistant professor of instructional technology and distance education at Nova Southeastern University and was a member of the research faculty in the Office for Needs Assessment and Planning at the Learning Systems Institute at Florida State University.

Michael Corry, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Educational Technology Leadership program at The George Washington University and holds his Ph.D. from Indiana University in Instructional Systems Technology.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 188 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company; 1 edition (January 13, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618379703
• ISBN-13: 978-0618379705
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #844,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ryan Watkins, Ph.D. is an associate professor at the George Washington University in Washington DC. His most recent book is A Guide to Assessing Needs: Essential Tools for Collecting Information, Making Decisions, and Achieving Development Results (online copies available for free through the World Bank, 2011). He is also an author of the world's top-selling text on e-learning (with more than 100,000 copies in press and a 4th edition in the works), the E-learning Companion: A learner's guide to online success (Houghton Mifflin, 2005, 2007, 2010), along with other books including the Handbook for Improving Performance in the Workplace - Volume 2 (Pfieffer/Wiley, 2010), Performance By Design: The systematic selection, design, and development of performance technologies (HRD Press, 2006), and 75 E-learning Activities: Making online courses interactive (Pfieffer, 2005). The Handbook for Improving Performance in the Workplace won a 2011 ISPI Award of Excellence in the field of performance improvement. In addition, he has co-authored three other books on organizational planning and more than 95 articles on instructional design, strategic planning, needs assessment, distance education, and performance technology. His articles are frequently cited in the performance improvement literature, making him the 4th most cited author of journal articles in the field.* Ryan is an active member of the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) and was a vice president of the Inter-American Distance Education Consortium (CREAD). In 2005 Ryan was a visiting scientist with the National Science Foundation, and he routinely works on projects with the World Bank on applying needs assessment, instructional design, and performance improvement to international assistance programs (including recent work in China and Laos).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential companion, May 8, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: E-learning Companion: A Student's Guide to Online Success (Spiral-bound)

Not only is the online classroom a new environment for learning, it is also one for which few learners have been formally prepared. While texts such as Becoming a Master Student have successfully outlined techniques for operating within the traditional classroom, it has not been until E-Learning Companion that learners have been afforded tactics for succeeding with online coursework. Watkins and Corry's text powerfully demonstrate that by integrating online learning skills with student success skills learners can better ensure their success in online learning environments. Rife with tutorials, activities, and self-assessments, E-Learning Companion is an essential resource for online learners and instructors alike.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good hints and strategies..., May 21, 2007

By 

J Johnston (Leesburg, VA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: E-learning Companion: A Student's Guide to Online Success (Spiral-bound)

I am giving 5 stars because I think this is a good book, easy to read, and has some great hints and strategies in it. It's probably good for the first time online learner. To me, however, it was a bit simplistic...probably because I've have `been around the block'. I am great with organizing and prioritizing so some of the chapters weren't really for me.

Still, I think that many people will find valuable hints regarding making online learning fun and meaningful. The section on preparing your computer is also very helpful.

If you are unsure about online learning, this book is certain to help you.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Waste of Money, March 13, 2009

By 

A. G. Navarro "dragon girl" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: E-Learning Companion: A Student's Guide to Online Success (Spiral-bound)

The book is a waste of money, the information is just common sense and I did not see how the book can help a student who should know how to use the internet. The book was a requirement for my bachelor degree with I learned nothing new from it.