Books on E-learning Design

know-how to deliver a world of high-impact e-learning


	Gallery of Recommended Books on e-Learning

Design Books with Good Stuff on Scenario-based Courses

Here are some good books I have found to help you design simulations (scenario-based) e-learning courses. I wish I could say they easy to read. They weren't for me but they were the only ones I could find that contained any helpful stuff. I have boiled down the essence of these books along with my experience and that of a few co-workers into my online courses. www.eproficiency.com/cube.


	These two books cover roughly the same material but from different perspectives. They give good principles to base your work on. Michael Allen references Gee's work a lot in his recent books.


	This is a classic. It has some excellent principles on e-learning in general as well as simulations even though it is a 1998 book.

This is a good one for learning more about how the military learned to build story lines for its simulations.

This one sounds like a good book on activities but it is not. It is more aimed at real simulations (airplane cockpit). It does have some good pointers on creating interactive scenarios. It helps you see things from a different perspective.

Contains some good overall information and a couple of good chapters on game- based learning for adults.

Instructional Design Books for a Solid Foundation


	I recommend these books if you don't have much formal training in how to design instruction. Don't rely on the fact that you sat in a classroom for years. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes to design good training. These books will get you started. If you like the field, enroll and get a degree somewhere.

This is your best value overall. I have gone back to my set over and over again. Sometimes I wish I had a new set but I just can't let go of the ones that are my friends.

If you can only afford one, then this is THE one.

Next is the ASTD handbook. You may prefer other resources but the edition I bought 20 years ago I still use today. In fact, I probably should get the new version.

Just select Books, type in "instructional design", click GO.


	This book was written for web sites but has lots of good tips creating e- learning. If e- learning developers used more of these ideas, learners would have less hassle and learn more.

Here are my top 9 recommended e-learning books for those who already have a solid foundation in how to design training. If you don't, click here for a couple of instructional design suggestions or click here to search Amazon.

Lots of good ideas backed by research, not just opinion. Take your time reading it as it is heavy but very good.


	This new one by Allen is really about designing e-learning. It is a good follow-on to his first one or even by itself. I highly recommend this one.


	This is a strategy book talking about combining self-paced with live virtual classrooms, mentoring, simulations, m- learning, etc.

Please click on as soon as you get to Amazon. If you do a search or go to another page before adding one of these books to your cart, no credit is given to this site and eventually I will remove these books. Thanks.

Here are two classics. I have them both and have learned a lot from them. If you want a place to start, this is it. If you can only buy one book, get Michael Allen's. I highly recommend this one. Get Clark's next to ground yourself in what it means to have your work based on practical research.


	This new one by Allen is mostly about the complete project process and not so much about design. It is more for those who have to manage an e- learning development team.

E-learning courses generally use many graphics which add nothing and in fact take away from learning. Get rid of the useless graphics! Read this book and learn what good e-learning graphics really are.

This book by Horton gives you another excellent way to look at your e-learning courses. There is a lot of meat here but all written so you can apply it.