Title: The Secrets of Successful Online Learning
Author: Laurel Alexander
Publishers: Management Books
Price £12.99
ISBN 1-85252-376-X
Buy this book from the TrainingZONE - Blackwells bookshop.
This 230-page book sets out to offer realistic and practical advice about online training. It is aimed at HR personnel and learning professionals who are looking for information to help them integrate eLearning into their organisation.
The book is divided into 8 chapters each with opening objectives and a closing list of useful web site addresses. The content is well structured and delivered in a reference style with headings, bullet points and information boxes rather than flowing text, making it easy to dip into as required.
The eight chapters cover:
Distance Learning and the WWW
What is eLearning
Managing an eLearning Project
Choosing a Management Learning System
Designing eLearning Activities
Developing eTrainer skills
Integrating eLearning into the Organisation
Becoming a Commercial eLearning Provider
Appendices cover terminology and checklists.
The preface advises that the author comes from a background as trainer and facilitator in the field of management and self development, and in the book she shares her expertise in eLearning with the reader, along with references to other organisations and eLearning experts. The book is very factual, arming you with information, but take the title with a pinch of salt, these “secrets” alone will not guarantee online training success. Also I feel the book deals with eLearning in isolation rather than looking at integration and blended approaches.
The book provides a basic, but comprehensive, guide to eLearning and so is a useful purchase which I would recommend if you are at the early stages of adoption or new to this whole area, It deals with eLearning from a providers point of view rather than a learner perspective. If you are already involved in eLearning much of the content will be known to you, but it is still a good source for quick reference. I will keep a copy handy in my bookcase. The world of eLearning moves fast so this is a book for now, and is priced accordingly.
Renee Raper MSc FCIPD FITOL
Director of Learning, Learning Channel
May 2002
