It’s not rocket science. Some folks have made it seem needlessly complex because they want you to depend on their wisdom. That’s a scary thought in a market where vendors and consultants come and go in the blink of an eye. It’s better to develop your own wisdom, so you can evaluate the options and make the best decisions for your unique situation. That’s what this book is about.

This book is a primer for folks who need to understand the terms, jargon, technologies, and strategies used in this field, see how all these elements fit together, and improve their confidence about taking the next steps. It's all about fundamentals and this website will help you take the next step(s) by providing "next step" resources you can use to learn more. I will be maintaining this site so check back for changes and additions. (Note: I reserve the right to edit or delete any entries, for any reason.)

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Other Reviews:

Training Magazine, October 2004

A couple of years ago, while researching an article about classroom trainer fears of e-learning ("No Time to Panic," August 2002), I heard a frequent impassioned refrain: "How will I ever learn all this?" Patti Shank and Amy Sitze, both former editors of Online Learning magazine, have done a lot to alleviate this fear, first by presenting the basics in understandable form, and then by reassuring the reader that it isn't necessary to learn it all, ever.

It isn't often that I run into a technology book that's actually fun to read. The authors have done an excellent job of culling down the vast information on e-learning into understandable, easy-to-follow, manageable chunks. Practicing what they preach about good e-learning design, they reduce information to the must-know and eliminate unnecessary jargon and tech-speak. It's also nice to run into another of the few authors (like Ruth Colvin Clark) who are well-versed in both technology and training.

Covering all the bases of an intro-level book, the material includes taking the leap (one chapter includes the subsections "what skills do I need?" and "how do I stay sane?"), meshing instruction with technology, a great annotated glossary of technical terms, the basics of design, choosing tools and infrastructure, and evaluating online learning.

There are good support tools including useful comparison charts and a fabulous companion Web site. The frequent "bottom line" comments, noted by an arrow symbol, are an especially nice touch. (For example: "It's important to be realistic about what you don't know and get the help you need.") This one is fun and user-friendly without talking down to the reader. As I so often do, I disagree with the title; this one is not just for beginners. Those of us in e-learning know it's just not possible to know it all; this will help keep us somewhat fluent across the field.

Jane Bozarth

Amazon

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