The E-Learning Handbook: Past Promises, Present Challenges

I had a chance to speak with and meet both Dr. Karl Kapp and Dr. Saul Carliner at the 2008 Society for Technical Communication (STC) Annual Summit in Philadelphia. While we were all talking, Dr. Kapp mentioned to Dr. Carliner that he enjoyed his new book on e-Learning. After hearing this I went to the bookstore in the convention center and bought Dr. Carliner's book titled The E-Learning Handbook: Past promises, Present Challenges co-edited by Dr. Patti Shank.

While I did not read the entire book yet, I have read a few chapters. One chapter in particular, I found very interesting. Chapter 11 is titled Converting e₃-Learning to e³-Learning: An Alternative Instructional Design Method. In the chapter guest author M. David Merrill describes e₃-Learning as "Enerative, Endless, and Empty." He gives concrete examples of how some e-learning is one of these three characteristics. He then goes on to describe how to make e-learning become e³-Learning, that is "Efficient, Effective, and Engaging." In the chapter Dr. Merrill goes on to talk how although there are many instructional design models and/or theories, they do share the same five principles which in turn can produce e³-Learning. They are: "activation, demonstration, application, task-centered, and finally integration."

I think this book is well written and a good book to have on your shelf because it explores 16 topics within six main areas (issues). Some of the topics included are "Web 2.0 and Beyond, Locked Out: Bridging the Divide between Training and Information Technology, and e-Learning Standards" just to name a few. If you haven't picked up the book I would recommend doing so. TextbooksRUs has copies from $55.32 if your interested.



Here is the excerpt from Chapter one: Thinking Critically to move e-Learning Forward from Pfeiffer's website.