Michael Allen's 2008 e-Learning Annual (J-B Pfeiffer Annual Looseleaf Vol1)

369 Pages·2008·5.09 MB·English

by  Michael W. Allen

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A b o u t T h i s B o o k
Why is this topic important?
e-Learning is here to stay, for better or worse. Let’s hope it’s for better.
The founders of e-learning technology saw a means of improving the quality
of individual learning experiences that no other medium offered. They worked
to blend what was known about human learning and pedagogy with emerging
computer and communication technologies and to study the outcomes
to continuously improve effectiveness. Unfortunately, much of today’s e-
learning fails to build on the vision, the knowledge, and the most important
achievements in learning technology. It therefore provides much less learning
and performance impact than it could and should, costing organizations
immensely and wasting precious learning time.
What can you achieve with this book?
You can improve the quality of e-learning you buy, create, and use.
Contributors to this volume openly and explicitly state the lessons they have
learned through decades of first-hand exploratory work. The advice and
direction so bluntly shared is applicable whether you work in training or
education, in corporations, non-profit organizations, military, or schools.
How is this book organized?
Each author was asked three questions: What intrigued you about e-
learning to the point of focusing so much of your career on it? After some
decades of working with learning technology, what have you learned (perhaps in
contrast to what’s become the general perception)? Looking to the future, what
are your current visions, hopes, and expectations? Each article wrestles with
these questions in a unique way, but with varying degrees of emphasis. They
are organized based somewhat on this emphasis and somewhat on chronology,
beginning with authors who were responsible for creating landmark systems and
beginning the discussion, moving to lessons learned, and ending with those who
focus on critical questions of the day.
T h e P f e i f f e r
A n n u a l S e r i e s
The Pfeiffer Annuals present each year never-before-published materials
contributed by learning professionals and academics and written for trainers,
consultants, and human resource and performance-improvement practitioners.
As a forum for the sharing of ideas, theories, models, instruments, experiential
learning activities, and best and innovative practices, the Annuals are unique.
Not least because only in the Pfeiffer Annuals will you find solutions from
professionals like you who work in the field as trainers, consultants, facilitators,
educators, and human resource and performance-improvement practitioners
and whose contributions have been tried and perfected in real-life settings with
actual participants and clients to meet real-world needs.
The Pfeiffer Annual: Consulting
Edited by Elaine Biech
The Pfeiffer Annual: Leadership Development
Edited by James Noel and David Dotlich
The Pfeiffer Annual: Management Development
Edited by Robert C. Preziosi
The Pfeiffer Annual: Training
Edited by Elaine Biech
Michael Allen’s 2008 e-Learning Annual
Edited by Michael Allen
C a l l f o r P a p e r s
In subsequent volumes of Michael Allen’s e-Learning Annual, we will present
the most current explorations, thinking, insights, case studies, challenges,
guidelines, and other helpful aids for the e-learning professional.
We need your requests and your contributions. e-Learning can achieve its full
potential to improve the world one learner at a time only through the sharing of
best practices and through a continual questioning of ourselves and our work.
I’m interested in providing a broad spectrum of articles and other contributions.
If you wish to contribute or just have a need an author might address, please
contact me at [email protected] or call me at 651-203-3700.
MMI CI CHHAAEELL A ALLLLEENN’S’S
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Copyright © 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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ISBN: 978-0-7879-8743-5
ISSN: 1046-333-X
Acquiring Editor: Martin Delahoussaye
Director of Development: Kathleen Dolan Davies
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Contents
Preface ix
Section 1. Visionary Pioneers Continue to Guide Us
Reflections on TICCIT, C. Victor Bunderson 1
Addressing Diversity in (e-)Learning, Patrick Suppes in
conversation with Michael W. Allen 31
PLATO, Plasma Screens, and Computer-Based Education,
Donald L. Bitzer in conversation with Michael W. Allen 43
Section 2. Learning Technology Takes Shape
Back to the Future of Educational Technology,
Fred T. Hofstetter 59
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time: The Development of
Computer-Assisted Instruction in Schools,
Peter G. Fairweather 83
Reflections on e-Learning: The Long History of a New Idea,
Wallace Hannum 101
Lessons from the STARS Revisited, Thomas C. Reeves and
William D. Aggen 127
Reflections on a Four-Decade Search for Effective, Efficient, and
Engaging Instruction, M. David Merrill 141
Section 3. What Does It All Mean? Pitfalls and Overhauls
Dreams and Responsibilities: Learning and the New
Technologies, Tom Boyle 171
Beyond Knowledge Dissemination: Learning to Solve Problems
Online, David H. Jonassen 189
What’s Right and What’s Wrong with Online Learning,
Greg Kearsley 207
Technology and Learning: A Proposal for Adaptive Tutorial
Learning, Alfred Bork, Carole A. Bagley, and Xiwen Zhang 227
Cheap But Not Tacky: Lessons Learned During e-Learning
Adventures, Sivasailam “Thiagi” Thiagarajan 249
Section 4. Are We Lost? Where Do We Go from Here?
Moving e-Learning into the Workplace, Allison Rossett 265
The Business Impact of e-Learning, Nick H.M. van Dam 285
Lessons Learned . . . and Relearned, Allen Avner 307
We’re Professionals, Aren’t We? What Drives Our
Performance? Will Thalheimer 325
A Final Word 339
Pfeiffer Publications Guide 345