Creating Successful E-learning.

Creating Successful E-learning, by Michael Allen, Book, 2006, Pfeiffer & Company, $35.

Michael Allen, father of Authorware and Grand Poo Bah of the perennially excellent Allen Interactions, stands on a beach proclaiming, "I love the smell of e-learning in the morning. It's the smell of ... victory!"

Perhaps that should read, "I love the smell of e-learning that has been skillfully developed using the iterative process of successive approximation in the morning." That is the gist of this book. Of course, I had to look up what successive approximation and iterative meant, twice. However, it was worth it because I found Creating Successful E-Learning: A Rapid System for Getting It Right First Time, Every Time, written by a master of e-learning development and performance improvement, to be practical and immediately applicable to my own development projects.

Practical help for developers

Allen combines all the quality ingredients of ISD, technology, and project management; shakes them up (shaken, not stirred); and serves them with the triple olive of affordable, effective, and engaging e-learning. Okay, my imagery needs some work. But the point is that Allen takes the tried and true ADDIE formula and updates it to be more useful and effective to the e-learning developer.

The book is separated into three parts, Organizational Realities, Escaping Tradition, and Applying Successive Approximation. In the first part, Allen defines his terms and lays out several common case studies about e-learning implementation. He also labors to renew our faith and hope in e-learning with the promise of something more, something new. The second part deals with the "New" way versus the "Old" way. Then, in part three, he effectively lays out a detailed roadmap for applying successive approximation to the development process.

Throughout, the book is enhanced with effective graphical representations of ideas. Allen directs us to websites that reinforce concepts. A Rapid Reader section at the beginning of each chapter summarizes the content. The book is nicely laid out with ideas chunked appropriately. The writing flows well. The author effectively uses case studies, margin graphics, lists, additional resources, and different fonts to set apart information and get the reader thinking.

First of series

The success of Allen Interactions, Inc., is well known, and Allen tells us early on that he will not "hold back" any secrets in explaining his vision. This book is, in his words, "the first and foundational book of a forthcoming series of short books that will guide you through the many tasks of creating worthwhile e-learning." I look forward to the other books in this series.

By the way, if Allen's reputation is not enough to entice your interest, the Acknowledgements section mentions appreciation of Will Thalheimer for a "detailed critique" of the book. Anything that the brilliant Thalheimer puts his stamp on has to be worth taking a look at.

Recommendation

I recommend Creating Successful E-Learning. Allen is an authority on the topic, writes well (a rare skill for a subject matter expert), and provides practical advice. Although the details of applying successive approximation apply primarily to an ideal situation and are somewhat labored, I can see the usefulness to someone wanting to apply the concepts immediately.

Review by Tim Hall

Product Ratings

Creating Successful E-learning

Holds user interest  *** 1/2
Value of Content     ****
Self-Study Value     *** 1/2
Instructional Value  *** 1/2
Value for the money  *** 1/2
Overall rating       *** 1/2