Michael Allen's Guide to E-Learning: Building Interactive, Fun, and Effective Learning Programs for Any Company

CHAPTER ONE

PLAIN TALK

Success is getting people to do the right thing at the right time!

Did I shout loudly enough? e-Learning is about success, both individual and organizational. It’s about behavioral change—again, both individual and organizational. It’s also about inspiration, competency, and fun with technology. It’s where I’ve lived for well over 30 years, and I invite you to join me in reviewing the state of e-learning from a very personal perspective.

I’d like to show you the often untapped potential I see in e-learning and share with you some lessons I’ve learned about how to make e-learning a valuable competitive investment for any success-oriented organization.

There is a reason for e-learning. Actually, there are many reasons for e-learning, ranging from practical to idealistic. Pundits note that in our information-based economy and society, e-learning may be the missing integration that will most dramatically change our lives. It will allow us to learn what, where, and when we want to learn. It will provide choices in how we learn. It will make hard things easy and fun to learn. It will wrestle our intellectual laziness to the ground while helping each of us use more of our untapped capabilities. Life will be grand.

Sure. And, with knowledge and skills readily acquired when the spirit moves us, we will blissfully pursue alternate careers on a whim.

The e-Learning Myth

Organizations sit down to study their primary goals and performance needs. They look at the products ...