E-Learning and the Science of Instruction Important? This Is a Book About What Works in E-Learning
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ffirs.indd iv 6/21/11 11:19:06 AM About This Book Why is e-Learning and the Science of Instruction important? This is a book about what works in e-learning. Increasingly, organizations are turning to e-learning to save travel costs and instructional time. In fact since our fi rst edition of this book, e-learning in both synchronous and asynchronous formats has risen to account for over one-third of all delivery of workforce instruction. However, dollars saved are only an illusion if the quality of the training does not pay off in improved job performance. Many books on the market offer useful advice for design and development of e-learning. But unlike these books, the guidelines we present are not based on opinion; but rather on empirical research. Much of this new research is inaccessible to those producing or evaluating online learning because it has been distributed primarily within the academic research com- munity. This book bridges the gap by summarizing research-based answers to questions that practitioners ask about effective e-learning. What’s new in the third edition? The popularity of the fi rst two editions is testimony to consumer interest in evidence-based guidelines on how to best use visuals, text, audio, practice exercises, and examples in e- learning. In our third edition we have updated all chapters, adding new research, guidelines, and examples. You will also fi nd a new chapter on the basics of evidence-based training. To illustrate our guidelines, we have added new storyboards from an asynchronous lesson on Excel, a synchronous lesson on Excel, and an asynchronous lesson on pharmaceutical sales. As a result of the popularity of previous editions as a text, we have also added an instruc- tor guide, which is available on the publisher’s website. Contact your Pfeiffer representative to access it. What can you achieve with this book? If you are a designer, developer, or consumer of e-learning, you can use the guidelines in this book to ensure that your courseware meets human psychological learning requirements. In particular you can learn the best ways to: • Communicate your content with visuals, audio, and text; • Avoid overloading learners with extraneous media effects; ffirs.indd i 6/21/11 11:19:04 AM • Leverage social presence to encourage deeper learning; • Design examples and practice exercises that help learners build new skills; • Use networked collaborative facilities effectively for learning; • Defi ne the best navigational schemes for your learners; • Design e-learning to help learners build problem-solving skills; and • Evaluate simulations and games relevant to your instructional goals. How is this book organized? Chapters 1 through 3 lay the foundation for the book by defi ning e-learning, describing how the methods used in e-learning can promote or defeat learning processes, and summarizing the basics of evidence-based practice. Chapters 4 through 10 summarize the multimedia principles developed by over twenty- fi ve years of research by Richard Mayer at the University of California. In these chapters you will read the guidelines, the evidence, and examples of how to best use visuals, text, and audio, as well as content segmenting and sequencing in e-learning. Chapters 11 through 15 focus on guidelines related to important instructional methods and approaches in e-learning, including use of examples, practice and feedback, collaboration facilities, navigation tools, and techniques to help learners build problem-solving skills. Chapter 16 updates the research and presents issues to consider in use of games and simu- lations in e-learning. Chapter 17 integrates all of the book’s guidelines into a comprehensive checklist and illustrates how they apply in concert to asynchronous and synchronous e-learning examples. See the Introduction for a more detailed summary of what is covered in each chapter. ffirs.indd ii 6/21/11 11:19:05 AM About Pfeiffer Pfeiffer serves the professional development and hands-on resource needs of training and human resource practitioners and gives them products to do their jobs better. We deliver proven ideas and solutions from experts in HR development and HR management, and we offer effective and customizable tools to improve workplace performance. From novice to seasoned professional, Pfeiffer is the source you can trust to make yourself and your organi- zation more successful. Essential Knowledge Pfeiffer produces insightful, practical, and comprehen- sive materials on topics that matter the most to training and HR professionals. Our Essential Knowledge resources translate the expertise of seasoned professionals into practical, how-to guidance on critical workplace issues and problems. These resources are supported by case studies, worksheets, and job aids and are frequently supplemented with CD-ROMs, websites, and other means of making the content easier to read, understand, and use. Essential Tools Pfeiffer’s Essential Tools resources save time and expense by offering proven, ready-to-use materials—including exercises, activities, games, instru- ments, and assessments—for use during a training or team-learning event. These resources are frequently offered in looseleaf or CD-ROM format to facilitate copying and customization of the material. Pfeiffer also recognizes the remarkable power of new technologies in expanding the reach and effectiveness of training. While e-hype has often created whizbang solutions in search of a problem, we are dedicated to bringing convenience and enhancements to proven training solutions. All our e-tools comply with rigorous functionality standards. The most appropriate technology wrapped around essential content yields the perfect solution for today’s on-the- go trainers and human resource professionals. Essential resources for training and HR professionals ffirs.indd iii 6/21/11 11:19:05 AM ffirs.indd iv 6/21/11 11:19:06 AM e-Learning and the Science of Instruction ffirs.indd v 6/21/11 11:19:06 AM The Instructor’s Manual for the third edition of e-Learning and the Science of Instruction is available free online. If you would like to download and print out a copy of the manual, please visit: www.wiley.com/college/clark ffirs.indd vi 6/21/11 11:19:06 AM e-Learning and the Science of Instruction Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning Third Edition Ruth Colvin Clark • Richard E. Mayer ffirs.indd vii 6/21/11 11:19:06 AM Copyright © 2008, 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Published by Pfeiffer An Imprint of Wiley 989 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741 www.pfeiffer.com No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400, fax 978-646-8600, or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, 201-748-6011, fax 201-748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions. Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifi cally disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fi tness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profi t or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. Readers should be aware that Internet websites offered as citations and/or sources for further information may have changed or disappeared between the time this was written and when it is read. For additional copies/bulk purchases of this book in the U.S. please contact 800-274-4434. Pfeiffer books and products are available through most bookstores. To contact Pfeiffer directly call our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 800-274-4434, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3985, fax 317-572-4002, or visit www. pfeiffer.com. Pfeiffer also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. ISBN 978-0-470-87430-1 (cloth); 978-1-118-08616-2 (ebk); 978-1-118-08617-9 (ebk); 978-1-118-08621-6 (ebk) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Clark, Ruth Colvin. E-learning and the science of instruction : proven guidelines for consumers and designers of multimedia learning / Ruth C. Clark, Richard E. Mayer. — 3rd ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-470-87430-1 (hardback) 1. Business education—Computer-assisted instruction. I. Mayer, Richard E., 1947- II. Title. III. Title: ELearning and the science of instruction. HF1106.C55 2011 658.3'12402854678–dc22 2011012858 Acquiring Editor: Matthew Davis Production Editor: Michael Kay Marketing Manager: Brian Grimm Editor: Rebecca Taff Director of Development: Kathleen Dolan-Davies Editorial Assistant: Michael Zelenko Developmental Editor: Susan Rachmeler Manufacturing Supervisor: Becky Morgan Printed in the United States of America third edition Printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ffirs.indd viii 6/21/11 11:19:06 AM CONTENTS Acknowledgments xvii Introduction 1 1.