Web-Based Training: Using Technology to Design Adult Learning Experiences
Not pie in the sky, or what should be, this book is based on over 100 interviews of people in Fortune 500 companies who are actually doing web-based training. This book is written for instructional designers, adult educators, training managers, human resource managers, and workplace educators who are developing their first web-based training program. The primary focus of the book is the design of programs for delivering training on the web while applying principles of adult education. The CD-ROM contains five different resources, some of which are in addition to the book: worksheets, document and presentation templates, job-aids, and links to the WWW. The book features 24 self-study exercises to help readers reflect on what they are learning…. More >>
Web-Based Training: Using Technology to Design Adult Learning Experiences
Tagged with: Adult • Design • Experiences • Learning • Technology • Training • Using • WebBased
Some books are more comprehesive; some are more opinionated if more focused. I found this one in between the two, and also dated.
Margaret Driscoll’s ” Web-based Training, Using Technology to Design Adult Learning Experiences,” provides the experienced ID or IT professional an authoritative and useful guide to developing a successful Internet training program. Only two suggestions are made on how to improve this guide. More information on the characteristics of the adult learner could be added, and a separate chapter covering Project Management for web-based training development would be a valuable topic for many readers (especially covering budgeting, resource selection, and scheduling). However, Ms. Driscoll speaks with an authoritative voice, does it clearly, and provides the information in a format that is easy to use. Margaret Driscoll also addresses the importance of curriculum quality, a message that should be voiced more often in our IT degree programs, “Web-based training is about training. This seems obvious, but it is not clear in many WBT programs. It is too easy to be caught up in the hype and hoopla of the technology, and lose sight of designing effective training” (Driscoll, 1998, pg. 234). This fine book would serve well as the basic textbook for a college level course on web-based training.
Web-Based Training is a textbook for corporate training programs delivered via the web. Focusing on the “training” in web-based training, Margaret Driscoll delivers an informative and useful guide Web-Based Training covers such topics as advantages of instruction on the web, principles of adult education, the web-based training process, assessing learner needs, and selecting the most appropriate WBT method. The second half of the book offers useful information and worksheets on designing lessons, the difference between asynchronous and synchronous learning, and evaluating programs.
I found this book very useful. It’s well laid out. It starts from the basics (so it may not be for everyone), but even though I don’t consider myself a beginner, a tip for listservs saves me time every day. Especially useful is the appendix which includes up to date tools, forums, conferences, training organizations, etc. I plan to recommend the book to other faculty where I work who are implementing web-courses.
As far as I know, this is the first book on this subject that’s equally useful for tech and non-tech folks. Most other web-based training books have lots of technical detail — and they become obsolete in three months!
But Driscoll sticks to core points (gauging the needs of your learners, etc.), so her book has a “timeless” feel. Anyone interested in investigating web-based training should pick up this book. It’s a classic!