Instructional Design For eLearning: Essential Guide To Creating Successful eLearning Courses

Instructional Design For eLearning: Essential Guide To Creating Successful eLearning Courses
Summary: In creating this 2nd Edition of Instructional Design for eLearning, I have sought to provide a single resource on the subject that can be leveraged by both novice Instructional Designers and advanced practitioners.

A Useful Guide To Instructional Design For eLearning

Newly published research, case studies, enhanced tools and templates, scores of "test-your-knowledge" self-evaluation quizzes, and dozens of practical end-of-chapter exercises all work together to make this a resource that you’ll want to have on your desk.

Approach And Content

As a life-long learner myself, I know how difficult it can get to sometimes pick up a book and really "learn" from it. I learned from those experiences and have attempted to address many pain-points when updating this 2nd edition of Instructional Design for eLearning.

My Approach

In approaching various topics, I have:

  • Leveraged some of the best and up-to-date research and findings available on eLearning and Instructional Design.
  • Combined an introductory theory with practical tips, advice, and tools that you can greatly benefit from.
  • Used a building-block approach, where you can proceed sequentially through the book to gain a better understanding of the subject matter.
  • Designed each section to also be used as a stand-alone resource, so you can proceed directly to it, and skip the basics if you wish.
  • Loaded the content with comprehensive exercises that will help in the practical application of everything you learn in the book.
  • Included "test-your-knowledge" quizzes to help you gauge your understanding of the materials presented.

If you’ve read the first edition of Instructional Design for eLearning, you’ll be amazed at the updates included in this latest edition. For example, you’ll find several enhancements and additions to the templates and case studies that bring the content out of the academic realm, and into the practical world of eLearning and Instructional Design.

I’ve also approached the subject of Instructional Design differently than many other texts on the subject. My goal was to create a resource that was rich in the theories but also loaded in the practical application.

If you are new to eLearning development and Instructional Design, you may find it easier to follow the content, and then make assumptions about the exercises while you complete them individually. On the other hand, as a practicing Instructional Designer, you could take one of your existing projects and build it through the exercises, starting from scratch and ending up with a fully functional product that you can use.

Contents

Having read scores of books on the subject, and attended hundreds of hours of online and in-class lectures, seminars, and training courses, I’ve come to realize how hard it is to create content that strikes a delicate balance between what readers must know, and what they like to know.

As a result, in this 2nd edition, I’ve tried to strike a balance between the theoretical aspects of Instructional Design, and the real-world business challenges that learners and eLearning content designers face daily.

  • Part I
    Basic Elements of Instructional Design introduces Instructional Design and eLearning theories and concepts to the beginner.
  • Part II
    Designing Instructional-sound eLearning courses explores many of the practical aspects that must be considered when designing eContent.
  • Part III
    Interactive elements in the eLearning course discuss the finer points on how to add interactivity to your courses. You’ll also come across some of the latest technology available, like desktop and cloud-based eLearning authoring tools.
  • Part IV
    Advancing your skills offers powerful insights about Instructional Design and eLearning content that every practitioner needs to be aware of. I cover topics like eLearning Project Management and Agile eLearning development in great detail, offering practical insights based on my own experience of leading and managing eLearning projects.
  • In Part IV
    You’ll also be exposed to a very topical subjec—copyright protection. Seeing that Instructional Designers and eLearning course developers produce huge amounts of intellectual property, I discuss everything you need to know about protecting your investment from being copied or pirated.

But that’s not the end of it! Buried in here, I’ve also offered some bonus material I’m certain aspiring Instructional Designers and new-comers to the field will not want to miss. This "straight from the heart" talk is my way of preparing you for a profession that has its challenges, but which is rich with opportunities for creative fulfillment.

Street Reaction

What has truly impressed me is how well this second edition has been received, both by long-time readers and first-time buyers of my work. Here’s a sample of some of the reviews I’ve received so far:

"I have the first edition of Marina Arshavskiy’s Instructional Design for eLearning book, but her updated version is just mind-blowing! ... This book is an incredible resource for any course designer". –K.B., Sr. Instructional Designer.

"Outstanding resource! This book definitely helped me discover a more strategic approach when developing course content. … A lot of valuable material, tailored for anyone seeking to teach strategically. This book allowed me to discover so many tools that will help me develop more effective courses". –V.A., Strategic Communications Branch Team Leader.

"This book is a must-read for eLearning designers! In Instructional Design for eLearning, Marina dispels the notion that success in eLearning design is a game of chance. Her book transforms eLearning design into a science, which readers can implement when designing a course". –S.A., Sr. Instructional Designer and Content Producer.

Based on feedback I continue to receive, readers seem to appreciate my balance of theory and practical tips, coupled with my "matter-of-fact" approach to some of the most challenging Instructional Design problems they face in the field.

Worth A Read

Whether you are looking to enter the field of eLearning content development, already into Instructional Design and wish to learn more on the subject, or an advanced practitioner interested in the latest developments in your field, you’ll find exactly what you are looking for in this 2nd Edition of Instructional Design for eLearning: Essential guide to creating successful eLearning courses. It’s a resource you’ll be referencing on an almost daily basis.