A resource for e learning training professionals. Filled with hundreds of real world examples and case studies from dozens of fields, it provides practical guidance for making the thousand and one decisions needed to design effective e learning. It includes a systematic, and flexible design process covering various phases of designing e learning.

From William Horton a world renowned expert with more than thirty five years of hands on experience creating networked based educational systems comes the next step resource for e learning training professionals. Like his best selling book "Designing Web Based Training", this book is a comprehensive resource that provides practical guidance for making the thousand and one decisions needed to design effective e learning. "E Learning by Design" includes a systematic, flexible, and rapid design process covering every phase of designing e learning. Free of academic jargon and confusing theory, this down to earth, hands on book is filled with hundreds of real world examples and case studies from dozens of fields. "Like the book's predecessor (Designing Web based Training), it deserves four stars and is a must read for anyone not selling an expensive solution." - From "Training Media Review", by Jon Aleckson, 2007.

1 DESIGNING E-LEARNING.What is e-learning?What is e-learning design?Design quickly and reliably.Then redesign again and again.In closing ...2 ABSORB-TYPE ACTIVITIES.About absorb activities.Presentations.Sharing stories.Readings.Field trips.In closing ...3 DO-TYPE ACTIVITIES.About do activities.Practice activities.Discovery activities.Games and simulations.In closing ...4 CONNECT-TYPE ACTIVITIES.About connect activities.Ponder activities.Job aids.Research activities.Original-work activities.In closing ...5 TESTS. Decide why you are testing.Select the right type of question.Write effective questions.Combine questions effectively.Give meaningful feedback.Perfect your testing.Explain the test.Consider alternatives to formal tests.In closing ... 6 TOPICS.What are topics?Design the components of the topic.Design reusable topics.Integrate foreign modules.In closing ...7 LESSONS.Combine learning activities.Ways of organizing lessons.Designing lessons as learning objects.In closing ...8 STRATEGIC DECISIONS.What is a course?Choose the kind of e-learning.Consider alternatives to pure e-learning.Plan for reuse.Follow quality standards.Title courses carefully.In closing ...9 DESIGN FOR THE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM. Create a virtual classroom.Select and use collaboration tools.Conduct online meetings.Guide discussion activities.Manage virtual courses.In closing ... 10 VISUAL DISPLAY.Fundamental design decisions.Whole screen or window?Number of windows.Window characteristics.Legibility.Layout.Unity. In closing ...11 NAVIGATION.How should learners navigate?Navigation mechanisms.Balance navigation mechanisms.Implement navigation mechanisms.Best practices for navigation. In closing ...12 CONCLUSION.The new model of learning.How we will learn.Just the beginning.INDEX.