What Are the Best eLearning Books for Instructional Designers?

TL;DR

The best eLearning books for instructional designers include 'Map It' by Kathy Moore for action mapping techniques, 'The Non-Designer's Design Book' by Robin Williams for visual design principles, and 'E-Learning and the Science of Instruction' by Clark and Mayer for evidence-based design principles. Other recommendable titles are 'Michael Allen's Guide to E-Learning' for practical guidelines and 'The E-Learning Designer's Handbook' by Tim Slade, ideal for beginners.

Transcript

hello and welcome if you're an instructional designer who wants to improve your e-learning skill set and just design e-learning that's all around more engaging effective and professional then there are some really good instructional design books that you can get your hands on i'm going to cover each of those books in this video so stay tuned so the... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍💼 Kathy Moore's "Map It" introduces action mapping, a process that aligns training with performance and business goals.
• 🎨 "The Non-Designers Design Book" helps instructional designers improve their visual design skills through the principles of proximity, alignment, contrast, and repetition.
• ⚾ "E-Learning and the Science of Instruction" provides evidence-based principles for effective e-learning design.
• 🌍 "Michael Allen's Guide to E-Learning" focuses on creating meaningful, motivational, and memorable e-learning experiences.
• 🫠 "The E-Learning Designer's Handbook" is a recommended read for beginners seeking a comprehensive understanding of the e-learning design process.
• 💪 Strong visual design skills are crucial for instructional designers and often overlooked.
• 🎨 Understanding the science behind e-learning design is necessary for informed decision-making.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is action mapping, and why is it important in instructional design?

Action mapping, introduced by Kathy Moore in her book "Map It," is a process that ensures training is tied to performance and business goals. It helps instructional designers create content that produces tangible results and improves job performance.

Q: How does "The Non-Designers Design Book" help instructional designers improve their visual design skills?

"The Non-Designers Design Book" by Robin Williams introduces the four principles of visual design: proximity, alignment, contrast, and repetition. With numerous layout examples, it trains designers to consciously apply these principles, leading to more professional and polished e-learning products.

Q: What does "E-Learning and the Science of Instruction" cover?

Written by Clark and Mayer, "E-Learning and the Science of Instruction" delves into evidence-based principles of e-learning. It provides a deep understanding of multimedia and other learning principles, allowing instructional designers to make informed decisions based on research and theory.

Q: How does "Michael Allen's Guide to E-Learning" contribute to instructional design?

"Michael Allen's Guide to E-Learning" offers insights from the founder of Allen Interactions, emphasizing meaningful, motivational, and memorable e-learning. It provides practical guidelines and research-backed principles to create engaging and effective e-learning experiences.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• "Map It" by Kathy Moore is a highly recommended book that introduces action mapping, a streamlined process to align training with performance and business goals.

• "The Non-Designers Design Book" by Robin Williams focuses on honing visual design skills, which are often overlooked in instructional design portfolios but crucial for creating engaging e-learning experiences.

• "E-Learning and the Science of Instruction" by Clark and Mayer delves into evidence-based principles of e-learning, providing a deep understanding of the research and theory behind effective instructional design.

• "Michael Allen's Guide to E-Learning" offers insights from the founder of Allen Interactions, providing practical guidelines and research-backed principles for creating meaningful, motivational, and memorable e-learning.

• "The E-Learning Designer's Handbook" by Tim Slade is a recommended read for beginners wanting to gain a comprehensive understanding of the e-learning design process.