Designing Web-Based Training: How to Teach Anyone Anything Anywhere Anytime
by WilliamHorton
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (09 February, 2000)
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Reviews (14)

Long on tips. Weak on theory.
This book contains a collection of web design tips which are in the main useful but not earth shattering.Where the book fell down, for me at least, was in the area of theory. It is weak here, and that can be a major problem if you want to conduct a scientific evaluation of the work using the umpteen heuristics suggested by the author.I doubt that there is enough information in the text to adequately help one frame an evaluation of a course, let alone put one together.

The book really has very little to say on instructional design methodologies.The reader is told to bear X, Y and Z in mind and then thrown a few sample scenarios (with screen shots). In many ways this is the tenor of the whole book: a vast and never ending list of do's and don'ts and qualifications to those do's and don'ts.I have to demure from the consensus among the other reviewers and adopt a minority position because quite frankly compared to other eleraning books, I found this one almost unreadable. The book is fullof particularities that are never adequately situated within a theoretical framework. It just seems like bad science to base so many recommendations on induction.

To be fair, it's good stuff in places, and frequently relevant, but can you retain it? Who wants to read a several hundred page long list of tips?

In terms of theory, balance and scientific worth a far better book, for my money, is by Alessi and Trollip.

Excellent e-learning overview
I am a corporate trainer who seeks to convert much of his highly successful classroom-based training to the Web.This book was EXACTLY what I was looking for and met my very demanding criteria for a 'how-to' book.

It succeeds in that it:

1.Takes the reader step by step by step through all of the big-picture considerations (and several subtle but important nuances) one must undertake to create an e-learning program from scratch, or convert an existing training program to one that can work on the Web

2.Is written clearly, concisely and simply - - an absolute rarity in a world of technology handbooks that are muddled and/or require the reader to already have a Ph.D. in computer science to understand.

3.Introduced me to small and large ideas that I had not considered but that made perfectly common sense when I thought about them.

This book made me a disciple of William Horton, and gave me the confidence that if I wanted to, I could transform my classroom training to the Web yet avoid a lot of errors I would have committed had I not read this book.

Great, Great Book
Most of the book covering e-learning are too much based on northamerican politics and standards since that's the reality for authors but, Horton's ideas and guidelines can be applied virtually in any country. He english is very to understand, he does not use word taken from slangs, or any "strange" word.

Chapter Organization is very good, every chapter can be read as whole unit, without going backward and forward reading other chapters because ideas are completely developed within a chapter.

Horton, is my fav. author on e-learning topics. ... Read more

Isbn: 047135614X
Sales Rank: 65061
Subjects:  1. Adult & Continuing Education    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Networks    4. Computer-assisted instruction    5. Computers    6. Computers & Technology    7. Distance Education & Learning    8. Education / Teaching    9. Employee Training And Development    10. Employees    11. Interactive & Multimedia    12. Teaching Methods & Materials - Classroom Planning    13. Training    14. Training of    15. World Wide Web    16. Computer aided design (CAD)    17. Computer-aided learning (CAL)    18. Computers / Internet / General    19. World Wide Web (WWW)   

Multimedia-Based Instructional Design : Computer-Based Training, Web-Based Training, and Distance Learning
by William W.Lee, Diana L.Owens
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (April, 2000)
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Reviews (8)

An indispensable roadmap
Multimedia-Based Instructional Design is a roadmap, a AAA TripTik?, to guide you on the complex journey from assessing the need for media-based instruction to the final evaluation and analysis of your results.

This book provides the plan and the tools to monitor the plan. It tells you what you need to do and strategies you may want to try. But it does not teach you step by step how to perform the work needed along the way. Multimedia development requires a multi-talented team, spanning a variety of disciplines-way beyond the scope of this book. You, as the project manager, are responsible for putting the plan into action, obtaining the necessary talent, supervising the production, and evaluating the results.

The chapters are short, simply written, and easily digested. The layout is easy to read, with large text and generous line spacing. The accompanying CD-ROM contains Microsoft Word versions of all the forms, checklists, and instructions mentioned in the text-plus Web-based tools to help you formulate objectives and another to help you choose the type of media appropriate for your project.

If you or your training department is planning your first foray beyond the instructor-led live classroom, Multimedia-Based Instructional Design will help you prepare a cogent plan, point out the potential pitfalls, and provide insight based on over 40 years of the authors' combined experience.

Terrific guide
This is an easy to read guide that is extremely helpful.I disagree that this was written by acedemics with no practical experience- there is loads of practical up to date information. I would strongly reccomend the book to anyone needing a strong grasp on the subject and practical examples.

Doesn't seem contemporary
Overly generous interline spacing has made a large book out of what is a effectively a small book.Much of the material in the book struck me as on the edge of redundant and out of touch with emerging developments. Many of the references are very dated (seventies and eighties material) and some are simply obscure.The book just isn't convincingly up to date.

The emphasis on form filling will appeal to all those types who like to run software projects by form filling.There is no creative thrust to this book and the complimentary technology angles are weak. The CD contained nothing that I hadn't been aware of in other modes or hadn't created with MS Office components. It is largely an irrelevancy.

For corporate types who want to roll out loads of flannel about elearning project management, this book may be a gem. For developers however, I would recommend Allessi and Trollip as a much superior text.Personally speaking, this book was not a good value purchase by me. ... Read more

Isbn: 0787951595
Sales Rank: 268140
Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer-Aided Instruction (General)    4. Computer-assisted instruction    5. Computers    6. Design    7. Distance Education & Learning    8. Employee Training And Development    9. Employees    10. Human Resources & Personnel Management    11. Instructional systems    12. Interactive & Multimedia    13. Planning    14. Training    15. Training of    16. Business & Economics / Human Resources & Personnel Management    17. Business & Management    18. Industrial or vocational training    19. Internet    20. Personnel & human resources management   

Principles of Instructional Design
by Robert M. Gagne
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 January, 1992)
list price: $90.95
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Reviews (2)

5th edition now available
The 5th edition of Principles of Instructional Design is now in print and includes two new authors, Dr. Katharine Golas, and Dr. John M. Keller. The new edition puts Gagne & Briggs into a current context. (This review was written by the other author, Walter Wager).

Timeless ID Basics
I first read this book when I was an instructional design student in 1972. Gagne and Briggs' definitions of types of learning and of learning processes are ageless. Even in the era of constructivist ID, this book contributes an important bridge between fundamentals of psychology and the structuring of learning experiences and environments. Where would I be today without 'reverse chaining'? Probably at the end of my leash! ... Read more

Isbn: 0030347572
Sales Rank: 104892
Subjects:  1. Curricula    2. Design    3. Education    4. Education / Teaching    5. Instructional systems    6. Learning    7. Methods Of Instruction And Study (General)    8. Teaching Methods & Materials - Classroom Planning   

Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative
by Edward R. Tufte
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 February, 1997)
list price: $45.00 -- our price: $28.35
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Editorial Review

With Visual Explanations, Edward R. Tufte adds a third volume to his indispensable series on information display. The first, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, which focuses on charts and graphs that display numerical information, virtually defined the field. The second, Envisioning Information, explores similar territory but with an emphasis on maps and cartography. Visual Explanations centers on dynamic data--information that changes over time. (Tufte has described the three books as being about, respectively, "pictures of numbers, pictures of nouns, and pictures of verbs.")

Like its predecessors, Visual Explanations is both intellectually stimulating and beautiful to behold. Tufte, a self-publisher, takes extraordinary pains with design and production. The book ranges through a variety of topics, including the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger (which could have been prevented, Tufte argues, by better information display on the part of the rocket's engineers), magic tricks, a cholera epidemic in 19th-century London, and the principle of using "the smallest effective difference" to display distinctions in data. Throughout, Tufte presents ideas with crystalline clarity and illustrates them in exquisitely rendered samples. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Explaining Quality Visual Information
Edward Tufte's book "Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative" is a 157 page exercise in critical thinking.The author discusses and analyzes visual information, pointing out flaws and strengths of various visual depictions.One becomes more aware of visual information and what constitutes ideal pictorial information.

"Visual Explanations" covers the topics of images and quantities, displaying evidence, pictorial instructions and disinformation, the smallest visual effective difference, repetition and change, multiples, and visual confections.Although the book has little to do with charts and graphs, reading the book makes one aware of all visual information and its ideal presentation.Anyone that works with or uses charts, illustrations, and any visual data will probably find this book useful.The book is richly illustrated with examples.

This book would be great for people that use statistics in their work or make presentations.It teaches people to be a critical thinkers concerning visual information and presentation. Even if you do not agree with Tufte, "Visual Explanations" will make you think about things you otherwise might not have.

Don't buy until you SEE it!You will be disappointed.
This book appeared fascinating to me.The book reviews appeared fascinating to me.But when I actually saw all of the pages inside I was really disappointed.Don't buy this one until you see it - you just may be disappointed too.

Learn how human information capacity affects your designs
An amazing book! While I'm not sure that it's worth giving up shelf space for, it's more than worth borrowing from your local library and reading.

The biggest things I pulled out of this were around information density and the capacities that humans have. This book provided me with a framework for looking at mediums of display to the user and to better understand how I can choose how much data and how to present it to best allow them to reason around it.

The examples are also beautifully produced and masterfully composed. The book itself is an amazing artifact!

Near the end, he talks about 'confections' and, while it was an interesting section, it was the one section of the book that it was difficult to pull out prescriptive guidance from. ... Read more

Isbn: 0961392126
Subjects:  1. General    2. Graphic Methods    3. Mathematics    4. Media Studies    5. Probability & Statistics - General    6. Research    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Visual Communication (General)    10. Visual communication    11. Statistics   

Envisioning Information
by Edward R. Tufte
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 May, 1990)
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Editorial Review

A remarkable range of examples for the idea of visual thinking, with beautifully printed pages. A real treat for all who reason andlearn by means of images. -- Rudolf Arnheim ... Read more

Reviews (34)

The Second Coming of the Prophet of Presentation
In "The Visual Display of Quantitative Information", Edward Tufte put forth a theory of graphical excellence which taught his disciples how to present complex data crisply, clearly, and concisely while preserving data integrity.

With "Envisioning Information", Tufte tackles a bolder objective: displaying multi-dimensional data effectively within the two-dimensional space of paper or screen.

To do this, Tufte employs his successful formula from "Visual Display"---outlining the general concepts of his theory and illustrating these principles with many and varied examples.

Tufte's approach to "escaping Flatland" (as he calls it) is simple but richly-illustrated:

- Employing the concept of micro/macro readings to add resolution to data displays, conveying more information in a smaller space

- Using layering and separation to foster comprehension of multivariate data

- Utilizing small multiples to convey change over time

- Leveraging color to convey information

- Weaving narratives of space and time

The effect upon the reader is staggering and transformative. Tufte has revised and extended his theory of graphical excellence with a handful of simple yet powerful techniques for improving our presentation graphics.

Anyone involved in graphics design or in the communication of complex information should have this book on his shelf---it is simply too valuable to keep having to borrow it from your public library.

Don't buy it until you see it.You may be disappointed.
I know that I am a contrarian here but... I didn't like the book at all - I was initially so excited to see the book, but when I finally did see it, I was very disappointed.I recommend that you actually see the book before buying it.You may be disappointed too.

Everyone doing UI design or implementation should read this
As in all Tufte books, this is beautifully presented and wonderfully content-filled. In particular, you'll learn:
- All about the tasteful use of color in the design of interfaces
- How to maximize data visibility in interfaces, as opposed to the widgets, frames, and borders around the data

The only bad side is that some of the chapters end just when you feel like they're about to wrap up in a statement of a best practice, leaving you to sit around and solve the puzzle yourself. While I'm all in favor of mental exercise, I would've liked to at least have a solution to double-check against. ... Read more

Isbn: 0961392118
Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Business Communication - General    3. Communication    4. Communication In Groups    5. Computer Graphics - General    6. Design - General    7. Graphic Arts - General    8. Graphic Design    9. Language    10. Language Arts & Disciplines    11. Statistics    12. Visual communication    13. Mathematics   

The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
by Edward R. Tufte
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 May, 2001)
list price: $40.00 -- our price: $25.20
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Editorial Review

A timeless classic in how complex information should be presented graphically.The Strunk & Whiteof visual design. Should occupy a place of honor--within arm's reach--of everyoneattempting to understand or depict numerical data graphically.The design of the book is an exemplar of the principles it espouses:elegant typography and layout, and seamless integration of lucid text and perfectly chosen graphical examples. Very Highly Recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (59)

It Changed My Outlook for Life
Though some of the examples of computer graphics are dated, the principles still resonate.This book was recommended to me in the late 80's and is still the major influence in how I think about presenting data. Tufte writes with quick wit and tremendous examples.

Buy the book in spite of the title - it belongs on every professional's bookcase.

Make quantitative information useful for decision making
I have heard this book described as a really good coffee-table book. It's content, while often technical and very much focused on the theory of graphs and diagrams and data and information, very practically demonstrates the impact of how quantitative information is visually presented, and shows many alternatives that are quantum improvements on the originals. It's easy to draw out the principles that Tufte demonstrates, and to apply them to your own work.

The book's examples are drawn from many interesting areas such as the New York State Budget, train schedule graphs, irrigation maps of 1972, heights of college students, the price of crude oil and the thermal conductivity of tungsten. Through these case studies, Tufte makes conscious for the reader the way in which humans read visual information and how poorly the majority of our visual information is designed in respect of this.

It has greatly influenced the work I do in helping people design reports of organisational performance information, how they choose and format charts in particular. I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone who regularly reports or presents data and information to others to assist their decision making.

Excellence in graphical work
If you buy just one of Edward Tufte's three wonderful books on good graphical practice (soon to be four, incidentally: watch out for Beautiful Evidence, expected later this year), then it has to be this one, because it is here that he sets out the principles that underlie all of his later work. It is a book that everyone who uses graphs for displaying information needs to read and read again. Every page contains something of interest and importance, and sometimes something entertaining as well.

So, what are these principles that define a good graphic? First of all, the presentation must be honest. So far as deliberate dishonesty is concerned this is obvious, but often graphical dishonesty results from incompetence rather than bad intentions. A frequent error of this kind is to vary the linear dimensions of little drawings intended to represent the relative magnitudes of different things. It is common, for example, when one quantity has double the magnitude of another to represent this with a drawing that not only has double the length but also double the width of the other, forgetting that this means that it has four times the area. In more elaborate illustrations where the drawings imply three dimensions, i.e. depth as well as length and width, doubling the linear size implies multiplying the volume by eight.

To this point Tufte's arguments are surely uncontroversial, but he goes on to discuss other principles that excellent graphics display and bad ones do not, and here he may part company with some of his readers. He dislikes meaningless decoration -- flourishes intended to make "dry statistics" more interesting. However, as he rightly says, if the statistics are not interesting in the first place one should not be presenting them, and if they are interesting they don't need decoration to make them more so. Another point -- related to this one, but more extended -- is that good graphics maximize what he calls data ink: as far as possible all of the ink used in printing the graphic should be conveying information about the data. Grids, scale measures, frames and so on should be kept to a minimum and should never be allowed to overwhelm the data they are supporting. A good graphic should be clear, but at the same time contain many details that constantly call the attention back.

The book is fairly repetitive, as certain examples recur during the course of reading it. However, this is deliberate, and probably essential. When we see a truly excellent graphic for the first time, such as the summary of New York City's weather in 1980, which appears in Chapter 1, we can see immediately that it is excellent, but it is less evident what makes it excellent. To understand this we need to have the various features explained and contrasted with some of the truly horrible examples that Tufte also provides: the very large quantity of real information contained in a small space, the simultaneous comparison of numerous different variables, the intelligent (and not garish) use of shading, the explanatory labels within the graphic, and so on. Convincing the reader that all this is desirable, and that gratuitous shading, meaningless bright colours, and so on, are not, requires a leisurely pace and some repetition. Many readers simply don't get it even after it has been explained, and the continued frequency of really bad graphics underlines the necessity of Tufte's books. ... Read more

Isbn: 0961392142
Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Economics - General    3. Graphic methods    4. Mathematical Analysis    5. Mathematics    6. Probability & Statistics - General    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Statistics   

Robin Williams Design Workshop
by Robin Williams, John Tollett
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (20 October, 2000)
list price: $39.99 -- our price: $28.30
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Editorial Review

If you just stumbled into design, maybe via a hobby that grew into acareer, and you want to improve your work without having to enroll in a degreeprogram, this book can bridge some of the gaps in your acumen. Not really aprimer on basic facts, Design Workshop is more like a guide to style.

The first chapter quizzes readers on mostly technical, basic details of design(like dpi), all of which can be found in Williams's previous publications (forexample, The Non-Designer'sDesign Book). Readers will be dismayed, possibly annoyed, that the quizanswers are not provided. Even if not knowing the answers means that you needremedial help, it feels like a bit of a tease.

The next chapters show how to use stock images, or your own images, to increasethe visual impact of your piece (basically through an increase in contrast). Thebest part of this section, and the book as a whole, is the "before-and-after"approach in the examples; they're like a series of makeovers. The captionseffectively describe what was changed in the image, and how it improved thedesign.

The book applies a similar set of makeovers to various types of design projects:logos, forms, newsletters, tables of contents, etc. In the final section, sevendesigners, including coauthor Tollett, break down the process that they wentthrough on a job of their own.

Self-taught graphic designers probably would make the best audience for thisbook, but designers who are of their own "school of thought" might find faultwith some of the tenets that are put forth. Graphic design by nature is asubjective enterprise--at the mercy of "styles." What you get in this book ismore of a "desktop-publisher style" (many of the drawings are clip art, forexample). There's a lack of sophistication in the design of the book, as well asin the illustrations of posters, letterheads, advertisements, and otherapplications that are used as examples. On the other hand, this same open, naivelook gives the book an inviting appeal, and makes it perhaps a bit less dauntingthan style guides, such as Robert Bringhurst'sThe Elements of TypographicStyle, that are intended for die-hard professionals. --AngelynnGrant

Topics covered:

Style advice for design projects, including:

• Logos
• Business cards and letterhead
• Invoices and forms
• Advertising
• Billboards
• Web sites
• Tables of contents and indices
• Newsletters and brochures
• Flyers

... Read more

Reviews (18)

Robin Williams Design Workshop
I found this book very informative and interesting. It had a lot of useful information, and the info was presented in a very "reader-friendly" format. There were a lot of examples in the book used to prove a point, instead of a `just take it for granted' procedure. The book was simple and straightforward but not boring. The book was written `to' the audience, with words like `you' and `your' instead of `one' or `some designers'. It really made the book have a personal impact.

On the other hand, the book wasn't `all encompassing', like it seemed to be. Many references to previous books by the author showed that this was a book for most people. I would have added more to the book instead of constantly referring to previous books, if I was the author. Also, in the book, questions are asked to the reader, but there aren't answers printed anywhere in the book, which can be confusing.

Personally, I would rate this book as an 8 on a scale of 1-10. It was a great book to read and it taught me a lot. It could have had more `guts', but it was very well written. I would definitely suggest this book to others, if they were interested in design. It was well worth my time and a good book to `keep on file!'

By M.L.Conklin

Great ideas and an easy-read book!
I had to buy this book for a design class in college and now that I am out of college, I still use it for ideas on projects and inspiration. Robin writes in a very easy to understand language and gives you lots and lots of pictures to illustrate what she is saying... the WHOLE book is full of colored photos! I liked this book so much, I decided to purchase Robin Williams Web Design Workshop.

Great Ideas!
I have really enjoyed this book.Being a designer, I sometimes need ideas to help get me going, and this book provides it in spades.I really like the way that the author took some ideas from concept, through to completion.It really provides a great insight into the designer's mind.I wholeheartly recommend this book! ... Read more

Isbn: 0201700883
Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Desktop Publishing    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Graphics - Design    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computers    6. Desktop Publishing    7. Electronic Publishing    8. Internet - Web Site Design    9. Microcomputer Graphics    10. Typesetting    11. Web publishing    12. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design   

Robin Williams Web Design Workshop
by Robin Williams, John Tollett, Dave Rohr
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (25 July, 2001)
list price: $39.99 -- our price: $27.76
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Editorial Review

Because "there's more to Web design than Photoshop and HTML," Robin Williams Web Design Workshop covers everything for the working Web designer including "how to survive dealing with clients."

Although Dreamweaver, GoLive, Photoshop, and other applications are mentioned (Flash even gets its own chapter), the book covers the gamut of Web design and technology issues rather than focusing on an individual application.

Each chapter is divided into sections, often no more than a couple of pages long. The chapter on backgrounds, the area of a Web page that seems to attract the worst design crimes, shows you how to avoid "the heartbreak of bad background design" in no less than eight sections.

In many books this subject would be lucky to get eight paragraphs; Robin Williams Web Design Workshop uses a clear two-column layout and plenty of real-life example screen shots to get the message across. Some pages consist only of captioned screen shots providing a great source of visual ideas.

There's a good balance between purely design-related issues and the technical stuff. Subjects like search engines, embedded fonts, DHTML, and forms are given a thorough overview, highlighting the main issues, and links to sources of more in-depth information are often to be found at the end of the chapter.

If you like to learn by example and see yourself more as a designer than a programmer, but want a working knowledge of current Web technologies from a book that you can read away from your computer, this is it. --Ken McMahon, amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Worn this one out
Several years ago I met with the main designer at company that created the web pages for several pharmaceutical distributors in Canada. At the time, I was well versed in creating web pages using several of the professional programs including Dreamweaver, as well as writing code. The designer, however,said that they did all of their designing in Photoshop and then used a slicing technique in ImageReady before editing the site in Dreamweaver.I hate to admit it, but I had never heard of creating web pages that way, so I went home and began looking through all of my web designing books to see if I could find a description of the technique.Yes, I found it in this book.

I don't want to give the impression that this book is all about Photoshop, it clearly isn't.But, at least for me, the Photoshop information has been extremely useful! Though I do not design the majority of my sites using Photoshop, there are some that I could not have created as easily with out it. I have not used other applications that supposedly are similar to Photoshop/ImageReady, so I can't say if they can or can not do the things that Photoshop/ImageReady can.

Nevertheless, since the time I opened this book and took a real look, I have used this book more than any other web books on my shelf.Sometimes it is to simply look at the pictures to spark a new idea, sometimes it is to review a specific designing technique.

Honestly I do not think Robin can write a bad book.

Some great information but not worth purchasing
I borrowed this book from the library to see if it was worth purchasing. It has some great design tips and ideas but nothing that can't be found in other books in greater detail. The glossy color pages make it fun to browse through, but there isn't enough detailed information on the various design topics.

I skimmed through the book within two or three days and don't see it as an item I will bother to purchase for my personal Web design library.

awesome design ideas
This book is very focused on the design aspect, which makes sense, since it is titled "Web Design Workshop". Just don't expect to see any html or javascript in it. Still an awesome book though - very very good design advice for the web. ... Read more

Isbn: 0201748673
Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Internet    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Networks    4. Computers    5. Design    6. Desktop Publishing    7. Desktop Publishing - General    8. Electronic Publishing    9. Internet - Web Site Design    10. Web sites    11. Computers / Electronic Publishing   

Web Navigation: Designing the User Experience
by Jennifer Fleming
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 September, 1998)
list price: $51.95
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Editorial Review

Jennifer Fleming knows that the best way to prove a point is to use a striking example. She loads Web Navigation: Designing the User Experience with quotes and screen shots that deconstruct some of the most fascinating, successful, and innovative sites devised. Fleming also recommends books within Web Navigation's margins that cover the discussed subjects in more depth. Far from distracting, Fleming's style allow the readers to take notes, think about what each site's page is trying to accomplish, and refocus with the author on the topic.

This book makes it clear that there isn't one right pattern to a successful site. In the case of National Geographic online, she sees the way the site guides and educates the user as its main attribute. For CNET, it's the speed at which it presents well-filtered results and reviews. For Garden Escape, it's its commitment to building a community through "simple and easily used forums" while selling supplies. From design basics to concept meetings to Web heuristics, Fleming casts a wide net without diluting her message: focus on the user's experience. --Jennifer Buckendorff ... Read more

Reviews (20)

A good primer for web navigation
Whether you're an experienced web designer, information architect, developer, or business analyst, Web Navigation: Designing the User Experience, is an excellent resource.

While many of the sites that Jennifer lists in her netographyhave changed and evolved over time, she provides a plethora of examples that are still relevant today. Granted many of her examples are "main stream," alot of great work is being done there. It should be noted that the bibiliography is a bit dated, but again, many of the books referenced in the bibliography would still be relevant today.

Additionally, Jennifer provides lists of questions that should be asked when defining / developing site navigation structures. As a consultant, it is my opinion that that best consultants MUST know the right questions to ask. Ms. Fleming provides us with many of these questions. Having also read Rosenfeld and Morville's: Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, I believe that Ms. Fleming is a better writer (or has a better editor). Quite frankly, Morville and Rosenfeld wrote an incredibly important, seminal book, it just isn't very well written in parts. Additionally, I feel that Ms. Fleming provides the reader with considerably more examples than can be found in Information Architecture for the World Wide Web. Kudos to Jennifer!

While many might consider the last six chapters of the book "fluff," I couldn't disagree more. If you're particularly new to designing web navigation, these chapters provide practical examples and issues to consider for specific types of web sites. Overall, I believe this is a "must read!"

well, it's ok, and ...
It's worth reading it, but you will probably think all the time "yes I know that, and?". If this is your first book about web usability it will help you but if you wish to be enlighten think twice. I'm a graphic designer working on this field since 1996 and no example or analysis in this book surprised me at all; in fact it reaches more or less the same conclusions that anyone who visits those websites will find.

1998 book anticipates 21st century themes
Jennifer Fleming has created a lively and wide-ranging discussion of Web design practices for the turn of the century. This 250-page volume accepts the Web for what it is - a task-based mass medium reaching for its audience through the often clouded glass of the computer-based browser screen. Rather than fuss over the Web's elusive true form (publishing medium? hyper-animated poster? PC software platform? supermarket?), Fleming simply accepts the obvious: there are all sorts of sites out there. For Fleming, tellingly, the design challenge lies not with deciding the right sort of site, and certainly not with the look of your navigation buttons. Instead, the challenge lies with adapting sites to the increasingly well-documented struggles of their audience. Fleming's book starts with Web users, ends with Web users, and stays with them all the way through.

Jakob Nielsen, of course, has been gathering devotees to his cause of Web usability for several years. But Nielsen, rational as he always is, speaks from outside the designers' circle. Fleming, a practicing design consultant, takes the Nielsen ideas (and others) and turns them into a full-fledged design process, a toolbox for building sites.

Among the best of Fleming's tools is the "user profile", the half-imaginary story about a specific user arriving at a site with particular needs, desires and concerns. You can see this slice of the book excerpted at Web Review. The technique lets you think creatively about all the different frustrations of different user groups - problems with graphics, problems with information design, problems with underlying business processes.

Then there's Fleming's succinct yet detailed description of Digital Knowledge Assets' "ethnographic" methods - such as asking users for stories of satisfying Web experiences, and even giving them disposable cameras to photograph what happens to them as they work.

To her user profiling, ethnographics and the like, Fleming adds a rich mix of more traditional Web project techniques - scenario planning, brainstorming, conventional usability testing and the like, all well-described. And over the top she sprinkles wisdom from scores of sources - from vintage design sources such as Edward Tufte through so-cool designers like Clement Mok and Erik Spiekermann to obscure sources such as a 1996 volume arguing that people expect computer-based media to behave "politely". Parts of Web Navigation are respectful journalism, as Fleming effectively picks the brains of the Web business's best. These luminaries' views broaden her book handily into a catalogue of current Web best practice. ... Read more

Isbn: 1565923510
Subjects:  1. Computer Books And Software    2. Computer Networks    3. Computers    4. Desktop Publishing    5. Internet - Web Site Design    6. Internet    7. User interfaces (Computer syst   

Technology-Based Training : The Art and Science of Design, Development, and Delivery (with CD-ROM)
by Kevin Kruse, Jason Keil
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (18 February, 2000)
list price: $45.00 -- our price: $42.00
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Reviews (4)

Good overview and management advice; short on technology
This book is clearly good for the right audience:those new to technology-based training (which the author defines to mean CBT and WBT, not, for example, a flight simulator), training managers with external vendors, and those who are short of the soft skills necessary to navigate the rocks that frequently sink TBT projects.Engineers will also be well served by topics on selling a project internally, GUI design principles, project management, development vendor management, and lots on measurement of effectiveness (Kirkpatrick and ROI).

Unfortunately, you know you are in the target audience only if you read the introduction, which is not possible if you buy the book on line.The book's title and subtitle "art and science of design, development, and delivery" misled me into thinking that a book on TBT would place more emphasis on technology.For me, a learning technology engineer, this means how to efficiently develop cutting-edge web-based training with high volumes, multiple languages, interfaces to learning management systems (LMS), and compliance with the emerging learning technology standards.There was absolutely no mention of such issues; it is assumed that you will outsource to a vendor who will handle those "details".While the book is not short, completeness demands at least an introduction to learning objects, metadata, XML, and the CMI standard for exchanging data with an LMS, with further references provided.This was omitted entirely.

For those wanting technical details, I would give this book a 2, and recommend Horton's Designing Web-Based Training.For the proper target audience the book is a 4, which I will give it, because I could have read the table of contents here if I had noticed the link.In any event, any serious learning professional will buy at least two TBT books, and this one is certainly worth the time and money.A 5 for the content it has, but a 4 for the content it doesn't.

Solid overview of e-Learning fundamentals
Kruse and Keil cover a broad range of topics in this book. The authors provide an overview of available learning technologies, advice on how to tailor learning materials to different audiences, and tips on layout.

The nicest part of this book is the section on selling projects internally, which I also found useful as a guide to selling projects externally. The authors discuss the selling process, which benefits to emphasize, and how to quantify cost benefits of technology based training.

In short, the book provides a introductory overview of the leaning technologies that exist, some tips on how to get the most from various technologies, and advice of getting buy-in from stakeholders.

Well-written, practical information
A fine book that balances theory with application quite well. I work as aTechnical Writer but have found that most of my work falls under thecategory of "Instructional Designer," so I did appreciate thebackground information that the author(s) provided on a variety of learningtheories prominent in the field of Instructional Design.

Additionally,the CD-ROM wasn't just a novelty; there were several documents whichprovided some excellent ideas for corporate templates I was creating, andthe sample CBT/WBTs really show how it's meant to be done. The highestfeedback I can give is that I will walk away from this book armed with somegreat ideas that will make my manager and technical team members wonder ifI just got back from a super conference. This book really shows you how toimprove your processes. ... Read more

Isbn: 0787946265
Sales Rank: 292338
Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Computer-assisted instruction    5. Employee Training And Development    6. Employees    7. Entrepreneurship    8. Management - General    9. Occupational training    10. Training    11. Training of    12. Business & Economics / Systems & Planning    13. Computing and Information Technology    14. Industrial or vocational training    15. Personnel & human resources management    16. Research & development management   

Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability
by Steve Krug
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (13 October, 2000)
list price: $35.00 -- our price: $23.10
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Editorial Review

Usability design is one of the most important--yet often least attractive--tasks for a Web developer. In Don't Make Me Think, author Steve Krug lightens up the subject with good humor and excellent, to-the-point examples.

The title of the book is its chief personal design premise. All of the tips, techniques, and examples presented revolve around users being able to surf merrily through a well-designed site with minimal cognitive strain. Readers will quickly come to agree with many of the book's assumptions, such as "We don't read pages--we scan them" and "We don't figure out how things work--we muddle through." Coming to grips with such hard facts sets the stage for Web design that then produces topnotch sites.

Using an attractive mix of full-color screen shots, cute cartoons and diagrams, and informative sidebars, the book keeps your attention and drives home some crucial points. Much of the content is devoted to proper use of conventions and content layout, and the "before and after" examples are superb. Topics such as the wise use of rollovers and usability testing are covered using a consistently practical approach.

This is the type of book you can blow through in a couple of evenings. But despite its conciseness, it will give you an expert's ability to judge Web design. You'll never form a first impression of a site in the same way again. --Stephen W. Plain

Topics covered:

• User patterns
• Designing for scanning
• Wise use of copy
• Navigation design
• Home page layout
• Usability testing

... Read more

Reviews (235)

Web Design is Dead! - so read this book!
Memo to all "web designers/developers" - WEB DESIGN IS DEAD!

If you did not already know, all the interesting work left to do on Web sites (especially Intranets) is information design. I have been a web designer/tech muppet for over six years now and I have been trying to figure out which direction to head with my career. Do I want to try and program, do I want to learn Flash, do I want to learn SQL... how about none of the above please!It has taken me awhile to figure it out, but usability and information architecture are the next logical steps in my career path (I mean really, how many of you designers want to remain in "production" for the rest of your careers?!).

Well, this book was a great jump start for the new direction I am headed, which is usability and information architecture.Steve puts together a real nice and neat short book to help get you headed in the right direction (only took a couple hours to complete).I really enjoyed the book, and no... it does not matter that he wrote it 5 years ago because many items on the web have not really changed that much since.Do not believe any of the negative comments toward this book, only newbies/rookies would not see the value of this book. I highly recommend it and I am now starting up Information Architecture by Louis Rosenfeld.If you are interested in watching a short presentation by the two of them when they reviewed the Library of Congress web site, check out http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/lectures/sklr.html

Great Job Steve!

Fantastic Book
I have a couple webdesign-related books here at work, and this is the only one I come back to from time to time. It's very well designed and laid out, has plenty of illustrations and humorous cartoons, and just like the title says, you can breeze through this thing and soak it up without really even trying.

This book isn't a nuts-n-bolts kind of thing, with code illustrations or or tooltips or any of that low-level stuff. No CSS, HTML, scripting, architecture tips are in this book.

Finally, real common sense.
This is the web designer's slap on the back of the head. We all design for what we think is logical for our clients, but rarely do we pause long enough to ask what is logical for our client's customers. Steve has trulyy hit the nail on the head with this book. ... Read more

Isbn: 0789723107
Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Internet    2. Computer Books: Web Publishing    3. Computer Networks    4. Computers    5. Design    6. Desktop Publishing    7. Internet - Web Site Design    8. Web site development    9. Web sites    10. Computers / Internet / Web Site Design   

The Non-Designer's Type Book
by Robin Williams
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (24 July, 1998)
list price: $24.99 -- our price: $15.74
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Reviews (14)

I don't love typography
I generally find typography one of those dry, tedious details I have to know to as part of my job. But THIS book makes it approachable, understandable, interesting, and even entertaining. As titled, this is a book for NON-designers - people who aren't usually interested in this stuff unless compelled to be, and who don't have a lot of time to learn it. If you're looking for something edgier or for "breaking the rules," this is not the book to start with. However, if you're one of those people with a thousand fonts on your computer and only about 3 you ever use, this book will open your mind to the possibilities.

NOT for type lovers
When I picked up this book, I figured that the title,"The Non-Designer's Type Book," meant that it was a book about type, FOR non-designers.After reading it, from cover to cover, I now wonder if the title refers to the author's credentials rather than the book's target audience. I love typography. I sit in theaters and watch every minute of the rolling credits if the font used is well chosen and well displayed.I have a Caslon 540 lower-case "g" pinned to the wall above my Mac instead of swimsuit pics. If you love type, you know what I'm talking about. If you love type, avoid this book and do not recommend it to anyone who hopes to someday love typography and master its use.Robin Williams' cutesy and heavy-handed text, while sometimes informative, is loaded with irritating "insights" as well as written-in-stone directives that are passed off as law. For instance, in at least two places, she states that type should NEVER, EVER be underlined. She says that it's a "law" that should "never" be broken. C'mon Robin! I mean yes, underlining is very often misused, but have you looked at the latest PRINT or CA Annual? There is a time and a place for underlining and the sensitive, savvy designer knows when and how to do it. She outright trashes one of the most elegantly designed faces in the history of the printed word, Helvetica, and glibly states that it will be out of style for the "next two hundred years." What?? Again, has Ms. Williams even looked at what contemporary (and effective) designers are doing these days? Helvetica is alive and flourishing. And, at the same time she is trashing Helvetica, she calls "rendered" type (such as 3D effects, letters that appear to be chiseled from stone or made of, say, salad greens) typography's "most beautiful" trend. She's killin' me!!If you want to fulfill and expand your appreciation for typography, buy Robert Bringhurst's exquisite manual, The Elements of Typographic Style.

For professional designers too!
Designers, don't let the title scare you.This is not a dumbed-down guide for amateurs.Yes, it's a great resource for amateurs and they will understand it, but it's also a wonderful guide for professional designers who need to review professional-level typography.It's a must-have reference in my library.Includes lots of ideas on layout, fonts you can use in different situations, fonts that complement each other, increasing legibility and special typographic effects. ... Read more

Isbn: 0201353679
Sales Rank: 68978
Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Graphics - General    4. Computer Networks    5. Computerized typesetting    6. Computers    7. Desktop Publishing    8. Electronic Publishing    9. Internet - Web Site Design    10. Typography    11. Computers / Desktop Publishing / General   

The Non-Designer's Design Book
by Robin Williams
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (15 January, 1994)
list price: $14.95
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Reviews (148)

A Great Guide for the Do-it-Yourself Designer
It seems that I graduated from school a decade ago and in all those lessons there has been nothing more prevalent than the simple basics of design. The Non-Designer's Design Book is a great resource to learn the basics but not only the non-designer but for the "I have to do it myself (small business owner) designer". Along with my own articles on design for the Non-Designer, I recommend this book to all my clients who want to learn (simply) how to design better with whatever desktop program they possess. The Non-Designer's Design Book is a great tool and a "design" must have.

Most have for novice designers
I'm a self-publisher and create my own marketing materials. After reading Robin William's book, I re-did and entire marketing kit and the transformation was remarkable.

Before, for creative design inspiration, I looked at marketing design books that basically showed professional brochures. Williams gives you the tools you need to dissect those professional marketing materials so that you can go and create your own outstanding package.

In four simple steps, she explains how to use the elements of design: proximity, alignment, repetition and contrast. Read this book and you will never look at marketing materials the same, ever. Before, I just did "what looked pretty" on paper. Now I create sophisticated prints that deliver a clear message.

An Ametuer's Dream...
I must admit, i picked this book up because it was on sale.The good is that its easy to read and follow from cover to cover.As an ameteur graphic artist with no formal training, this book was eye-opening.The concepts are easy to understand and pretty well explained.This book is not meant to teach graphic design rather basic principles used in design medium.Overall, an excellent book.I give it my thumbs up! ... Read more

Isbn: 1566091594
Sales Rank: 9346
Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Design - Book    3. Desktop Publishing    4. Desktop Publishing - General    5. Graphic Arts - General    6. Layout    7. Printing    8. Printing, Practical    9. Typography    10. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design   

Content Management Bible (Bible)
by BobBoiko
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (15 December, 2001)
list price: $49.99
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Reviews (9)

An encyclopedic treatise on Content Management.
Even the smallest Web site requires some form of content management. File system directories and informal sharing across publications are sufficient for small sites. But as the size and level of activities grow, informal content management begins to cost too much and take too long. At that point, a Content Management System may become necessary to help organize and automate the process. The decision to automate is normally based on 4 criteria: content size, change frequency, number and diversity of contributors and, the number of publications (channels). A Web Publishing project where content is distributed over more than 1000 pages will likely requires an automated Content Management System (CMS). The process of implementing a CMS is a major project in itself. So, depending on your work environment you may not need to concern yourself with a CMS at this point. Should the need exist, then this book will provide all the required information and more. It is meant for people tasked with designing and implementing CMS, and some filtering will need to be done by the reader interested in only specific aspects of Content Management. A well structured and easy to read work of encyclopedic proportion. This book is best kept as a reference and used when needed.
Jean C. Ducharme, PMP

The most complete and authoritative reference book about CMS
As a Project Manager with a mandate to come up with a Content Management System for my organization, over the course of the past three months I've found the CMS Bible by Boiko simply essential, as most of the other 'bible' tech books I've read have been. He provides a very robust framework that you can follow in your project, if you have the time to read through its almost 1000 pages.

First, he delves into a very thorough discussion about the more 'phylosophical' topics of content (what it is, what is data, what is metadata, etc.) and content management at large. If you haven't gotten your feet wet with a CMS project before, the first 10 chapters (175 pages) will get you soaked with the type of dilemmas you are bound to face when you work on a CMS.

Then, he provides what could be considered a "recipe" to put together a CMS successfully (though no two CMS projects are ever alike, but a lot of them have similar characteristics). There are a number of chapters and sections specifically devoted to the steps required to ensure a successful outsourcing of the project, but the framework he provides is not limited to it: you can perfectly apply it to an in-house implementation. Also, he tends to paint the largest possible picture (with all staff possible, etc.) but you can very easily scale it down to the size and shape of your organization.

In general, his framework goes back once and again to the concept of the "Wheel of Content Management" where he connects the spikes that allow the 'wheel' to move: goals and requirements, audiences, publications, authors, acquisition sources, workflow and staff and access structures, all revolving around the central content component classes with metadata as the outside of the wheel, serving as a container for it all.

He doesn't wrap up the book without devoting enough space to XML and its close cousin, the DTD. He even provides a small VB app to convert Word content to XML, and that's still "only" on page 788. If you haven't noticed by now, this book is MASSIVE, and if there's any issue with it, that would be it: the fact that you will need to devote a long time to processing it. But all in all, the book with its companion web site is an invaluable tool for all Project Managers who have in their hands the responsibility of giving birth to a CMS for their organizations.

Well-written and easy to read
As a favor to another professor, Bob Boiko once taught a couple of sessions of a class I took at the University of Washington's iSchool. I was very impressed by his laid-back manner and his skill at making difficult concepts easy to understand.

I picked up a copy of CMB a couple of weeks ago and I'm currently a little more than halfway through it. Frankly, it may be the best computer book I've ever read. It's long, but the pages fly by. Everything is easy to understand. As a programmer who once built a small content management system, I thought I understood the basic concepts well. But Boiko's book has given me a whole new perspective on the subject. My company's next CMS will be significantly better thanks to him.

I heartily recommend this text to anyone interested in buying or building a content management system. It is one of the few books of the "Bible" series that truly lives up to its name. ... Read more

Isbn: 076454862X
Sales Rank: 74570
Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - General Information    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Networks    4. Computer network resources    5. Computers    6. Database management    7. Design    8. Desktop Publishing    9. Electronic Commerce    10. Electronic Publishing    11. Internet - General    12. Internet - Web Site Design    13. Programming - Systems Analysis & Design    14. Web sites    15. World Wide Web    16. Computers / Internet / Web Site Design    17. Databases & data structures   

Designing Visual Interfaces: Communication Oriented Techniques
by Kevin Mullet, Darrell Sano
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (05 December, 1994)
list price: $60.00 -- our price: $60.00
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Editorial Review

An excellent introduction to the design theories involved in the creation of user interfaces. Instead of the usual examples and pictures of computer screens and application menus, Mullet approaches the concept of UI from its "outside world" roots. With examples ranging from street signs to corporate logos to the map of the London Underground, each section attacks the issues of interface design from the ground up, appealing first to the eye and then to the mind. Task menus are compared with concert programs and street signs are equated with icons.

This is not a technical book, so advanced developers might want to supplement it with a platform-specific how-to. For aesthetic advice and sheer enjoyment, anyone involved with or interested in interface design should pick it up. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

wonderful, clear, very useful
I really loved this book.
It is simple, clear and goes right to the point.
It helps understanding the essence of good design, reachingsimplicity and elegance but it provides also instruments to guide (through design choices) the user/viewer attention towards most important elements (visual priority).And this is essential to make good interfaces.

Excellent, graphics oriented treatment
This book should certainly not be your first book on GUI design. You might want to check out Alan Cooper "About Face", Johnson "GUI Bloopers" or a similar one which focuses in a broad way specifically on GUIs. If you are interested in Web design you might prefer the excellent "Don't make me thing" from Steve Krug. Even if you want to look at GUI design with a strong graphics bias you might first want to read the beautiful books of Tufte.

Having said that and you still make it to this book. You get an excellent treatment of the graphic aspects of design in general and at many places with special applications to GUIs. Examples are posters, maps, public transportation information, different GUIs including the NextStep. If you like Piet Mondrian, the Bauhaus ... then you enjoy the positive examples a lot. The book gives some theoretical background and tries to help build our taste by showing good and bad solutions to design problems.

The pictures are well reproduced (mostly black and white) and of good quality. The cover of the book is somewhat horrid (on line order saved me here from not buying it). Also it is extremely soft cover - way too soft for such a valuable book.

Good information, flawed by presentation
This book has a lot of great information, and the layout (of the information) is actually pretty good. Unfortunately, the density and otherwise poor quality of the prose and editing obscure this. I can't believe a book that costs this much, and whose focus is presentation, would have such glaringly obvious errors. I've never seen a book with so many typos. It also uses the incredibly wordy and verbose style often found in the art world, a technique that does not exactly help in demystification of a topic that surely needs it. The good news is that I was preparing a technical writing class as I was reading the book and it provided a ready source for exercises.
A good rewrite of this book, with up to date examples, is overdue. In the mean time, if you can wade through the prose, the information is definitely there. ... Read more

Isbn: 0133033899
Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Desktop Publishing    2. Computer Books: Languages    3. Computer Graphics    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Data Processing - General    6. Desktop Publishing - General    7. Graphical user interfaces (Com    8. Graphical user interfaces (Computer systems)    9. User Interface    10. Computers / User Interfaces   

The Web Learning Fieldbook : Using the World Wide Web to Build Workplace Learning Environments
by ValorieBeer
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (February, 2000)
list price: $45.00 -- our price: $42.06
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Reviews (3)

Excellent reference and resource book
I am a new media technology evangelist, and an expert in the fields of applying interactive learning technologies for education. I found Beer's book to be tremendous resource for real-world examples of what can be considered good and effective e-learning.The chapters are concise and clear, with summaries and reference information. The resource lists are absolutely stunning and incredibly useful. Just for the number of resources scouted and selected for you it is worth is cover price. I would strongly suggest it to anybody interested in learning more in this field.

The Web Learning Fieldbook
This is an excellent reference specifically targeted to someone facing thedaunting task of implementing eLearning into a corporate culture. It is notso narrow so as to remove an ability to apply personal circumstances. Yet,it is broad enough to enlighten the implementor to key considerations andpitfalls.

Fieldbook: Good Common Sense
Valorie Beer is obviously experienced with delivery of webbased content and makes many good "common sense" approachsuggestions. The treatment of the topic is broad but not very deep. Positive: She offers many good tools (tables and checklists). Negative: Too many website references. Fewer website links with better personal review/criterion lists would be far more useful. (Why is this site better than that, etc...)Very passive writing style. ... Read more

Isbn: 0787950238
Sales Rank: 230202
Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Career/Job    4. Computer Networks    5. Computer network resources    6. Computer-assisted instruction    7. Employee Training And Development    8. Employees    9. Human Resources & Personnel Management    10. Internet - General    11. Training    12. Training of    13. World Wide Web    14. Business & Economics / Human Resources & Personnel Management    15. Business & Management    16. Business strategy    17. Internet    18. Personnel & human resources management   

Developing Training Courses : A Technical Writer's Guide to Instructional Design and Development
by Rives Hassell-Corbiell
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (March, 2001)
list price: $29.95 -- our price: $25.46
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Reviews (2)

Terrific for Planning from the Ground Up!
I just can't say enough about this book.I am developing a training program for the first time and it has added outstanding depth to my process.It is simple to use.If you go step by step everything just seems to fall in to place.

It is a life saver!

Very applicable
I read this book in 5 hours.After that, I had all the tools I needed to start developing a training course for a subject matter I still knew little about.Great book for someone who has a short time to develop a training course.Great reference for anyone who needs new approaches to their training development. ... Read more

Isbn: 0970145403
Sales Rank: 52721
Subjects:  1. Business & Economics / Training    2. Design    3. Education    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Instructional systems    6. Occupational training    7. Planning    8. Technical writing    9. Technology / Technical Writing    10. Business & Economics    11. Technology    12. Training   

Instructional-Design Theories and Models: A New Paradigm of Instructional Theory, Vol. 2 (Instructional Design Theories & Models)
by Charles Reigeluth
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 April, 1999)
list price: $59.95 -- our price: $59.95
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Reviews (4)

The Focus Should Be on Instruction That Works
The number of instructional theories and camps of instructional theorists are growing at a rapid rate.Camps of constructivists face off against camps of reductionists and the debate rages on.Unlike many other scientific communities, educators and instructional theorists seem to spend as much energy tearing down the past as they do in inventing the future.

Charles Reigeluth has taken a very different approach to instructional theory.He has gathered together many of the best minds in instruction and assembled their writings into a second volume of instructional theory and practice.In this volume, he allows the various authors to present twenty-one different instructional theories.As editor, Dr. Reigeluth and others cross-reference these various theories and practices to create a discussion of similarities.Rather than take a position that one camp or another is right or wrong, each is allowed to make a case for the work they are doing.Each is given space to offer examples of process and results.If you are looking for a clear picture of the profession of instruction in 1999, then you need look no further than this volume.You will not find exhaustive descriptions of each theory or complete descriptions of all the associated research.This book is more of a summary of all the important work in the profession with extensive references to the larger body of work.
The message from Reigeluth is clear.Instructional professionals need to spend more energy looking for solutions and less energy on carving out individual positions.The focus should be on results because results ultimately determine what works.This work builds on the original volume of instructional theories published in 1983, and there is an indication from Reigeluth that a third volume is now in the works.This is must reading for anyone who wants to take the pulse of the profession.

The Focus Should Be on Instruction That Works
The number of instructional theories and camps of instructional theorists are growing at a rapid rate.Camps of constructivists face off against camps of reductionists and the debate rages on.Unlike many other scientific communities, educators and instructional theorists seem to spend as much energy tearing down the past as they do in inventing the future.

Charles Reigeluth has taken a very different approach to instructional theory.He has gathered together many of the best minds in instruction and assembled their writings into a second volume of instructional theory and practice.In this volume, he allows the various authors to present twenty-one different instructional theories.As editor, Dr. Reigeluth and others cross-reference these various theories and practices to create a discussion of similarities.Rather than take a position that one camp or another is right or wrong, each is allowed to make a case for the work they are doing.Each is given space to offer examples of process and results.If you are looking for a clear picture of the profession of instruction in 1999, then you need look no further than this volume.You will not find exhaustive descriptions of each theory or complete descriptions of all the associated research.This book is more of a summary of all the important work in the profession with extensive references to the larger body of work.
The message from Reigeluth is clear.Instructional professionals need to spend more energy looking for solutions and less energy on carving out individual positions.The focus should be on results because results ultimately determine what works.This work builds on the original volume of instructional theories published in 1983, and there is an indication from Reigeluth that a third volume is now in the works.This is must reading for anyone who wants to take the pulse of the profession.

A classic!
Charles is my Ph.D. dissertation advisor and my mentor so I knew that he put in a lot of efforts on putting this book together. Please pay attention to the last chapter: formative research methodology. Not only for us researchers or professors in universities to get more insight about instructional design, theories and models, but I know a lot of corporate trainers are also using this book as "bible" to guide their daily design work. A very good book (green book vol. 2), highly recommended. ... Read more

Isbn: 0805828591
Sales Rank: 150137
Subjects:  1. Administration - General    2. Curriculum planning    3. Education    4. Education / Teaching    5. Experimental Methods    6. Learning, Psychology of    7. Lesson planning    8. Methods Of Instruction And Study (General)   

e-Learning and the Science of Instruction : Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning
by Ruth ColvinClark, Richard E.Mayer
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (18 October, 2002)
list price: $45.00 -- our price: $34.81
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Reviews (11)

Excellent practical book for practitioners
I have been designing and developing e-Learning for 6 years and this book has been wonderful to help remind me of some basics, teach me a few things, and give excellent practical advice as I continue developing.I am not one to read textbooks or non-fiction but I find this writing style very easy to read and I am able to easily apply the concepts.If you have never developed e-Learning but are studying the topic in school, this book may come across as dry and hard to read.Hold on to it and pick it up after you've been developing for a year or so and I'm sure you'll find it as useful as I have.

Great book based on evidence
Hi:I found the book to be very useful in helping me design an e-learning program.The basic concept of the book is that simple is best; do not overload the learner with extraneous information.The book is nicely laid out and the authors practice what they preach in the learning design of the book. The only weakness I found was the examples used.They seemed dated and not really applicable.

Overall a great learning experience for me. I read it twice and will review it periodically as I work on different projects.

Most useful book on this subject
As someone who has been designing multimedia elearning programs since '95, I found this book simply the most useful book on this subject for anyone serious about getting multimedia learning right.

The book is full of references to well designed studies published in refereed jounals where the principles discussed were meticulously examined by learning researchers.

This is refreshing in a field where most books are anecdotes written by programmers (ala Michael Allen) or website designers. This book actually gives you design principles to follow to increase student learning while debunking many (too)popular theories about good design (such as the usefulness of extra tidbits of information, how to mix pictures and text, when to use audio in an animation, whether a self-playing presentation is better than one where the user clicks through, etc, whether all learners learn best from non-linear presentation, etc.).

I'd highly recomend this book to anyone serious about getting educational multimedia design and elearning right. ... Read more

Isbn: 0787960519
Sales Rank: 14404
Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Business education    3. Career/Job    4. Computer-assisted instruction    5. Education    6. Entrepreneurship    7. Training    8. Business & Economics / General    9. Computer Communications & Networking    10. Educational resources & technology    11. Internet    12. Multimedia