Books
About Online Learning
The focus for this pathfinder is the research in the area of instructional design for online learning. There is lots of research in both of these areas. This is not a comprehensive list of relevant text by leading researchers and authors but it does represent recent and revelant texts in the field.
 E-tivities: The Key to Active Online Learning by Gilly Salmon (2002) This book shows the central role of activities in online learning and the importance of engaging learners. The book shows how to: develop low-cost and worthwhile e-activities; create fuller participation in online learning; and retain and satisfy learners. Based on Gilly Salmon's own research and worldwide experience working with students and in commercial training, this book is intended for professionals involved in online learning.
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 E-Learning Games: Interactive Learning Strategies for Digital Delivery. by Kathleen Iverson (2005) Iverson attempts to ground her many examples and the book is largely a set of suggested activities in learning theory. The bulk of the book is then taken up with concrete examples all written to the same format. These are really worth having. Especially if you’re stuck with an online tutoring model that is sinking under the weight of administrative effort or dozing along with some minimal mentoring. |
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 Theory and Practice of Online Learningby Terry Anderson (2008) Essays by practitioners and scholars active in the complex, diverse, and rapidly evolving field of distance education blend scholarship and research; practical attention to the details of teaching and learning; and mindful attention to the economics of the business of education. |
 Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instructionby Rita-Marie Conrad & Ana Donaldson (2004) Engaging the Online Learners includes an innovative framework—the Phases of Engagement—that helps instructors become more involved as knowledge generators and cofacilitators of a course. The book also provides specific ideas for tested activities (collected from experienced online instructors across the nation) that can go a long way to improving online learning. |
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 Games and Simulations in Online Learning: Research and Development Frameworksby David Gibson, Clark Aldrich and Marc Prensky (2006) This book examines the potential of games and simulations in online learning, and how the future could look as developers learn to use the emerging capabilities of the Semantic Web. It explores how the Semantic Web will impact education and how games and simulations can evolve to become robust teaching resources |
 The Virtual Classroom: Evidence Based Guidelines for Synchronous E-Learningby Ruth Colvin Clark and Ann Kwinn (2007) The New Virtual Classroom draws on current research in multimedia learning as well as practitioner experience to show how to effectively harness the power of the virtual classroom. This resource includes guidelines, research, and illustrative examples that clearly show how to leverage the powerful instructional features in the new virtual classroom. A practical resource, the book includes the key guidelines for initiating and maintaining participant engagement in virtual classroom sessions. |
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 E-moderating: The Key to Teaching and Learning Online 2nd Edition by Gilly Salmon (2004) E-Moderating is a user's guide to working effectively in the virtual world, covering key areas including: * the why, what, and how of e-moderating * becoming a good e-moderator * the benefits to learners of e-moderating and * training to become an effective e-moderator. It also includes a unique collection of resources for practitioners. Fully updated and expanded, this second edition features new material on the latest research and practice in the field, fresh case studies and practitioner resources, and a brand new chapter on future e-learning scenarios.
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 E-learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learningby Ruth Colvin Clark (2007) Too many guidelines for instructional design are based on opinion or an attempt to be consistent with some philosophical position. It is most refreshing when one of the world's most respected learning researchers teams with the premier translator of scientific findings to produce a set of e-learning guidelines based on empirical research findings. Both novice and experienced instructional designers will observe more effective and efficient learning from their instructional products if they implement the guidelines in this book.-M. David Merrill |
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