E-learning, as with many other aspects of the digital revolution, was hailed as the panacea for training and development. In the intervening years and following a number of, sometimes painful, lessons for learning providers, client organizations and the learners themselves, we now have a more realistic view of the opportunities provided by this medium and of the skills and processes needed to make it work.

Roger Lewis and Quentin Whitlock's How to Plan and Manage an E-learning Programme is a complete guide to best practice on managing the processes, the content and all of the people involved.

Practising what they preach, the authors break the subject down into manageable chunks and use a wide range of examples and plenty of checklists to give you a rigorous and yet highly practical route map, from planning, designing and selling the initial concept, through testing to launch and evaluation.

E-learning, despite its reliance on technology is a people-oriented process and the authors include advice on managing and supporting learners (and their expectations), building and managing the e-learning development and support teams.

Commissioning effective materials and sustaining e-learning is an expensive, time-consuming and risky business. How to Plan and Manage an E-learning Programme is a must-have guide for those tasked with championing e-learning, designing or commissioning programmes, and supporting and sustaining learners.

Contents: Introduction; Planning an e-learning programme Part I; Planning an e-learning programme Part II; Business planning and marketing; Analysing learning needs; Defining and testing learning outcomes; Making a learning plan; Managing assessment; Managing learner support; Managing materials selection and adaptation; Developing and accessing learning materials; Managing the e-learning development team; Learning management systems and standards; Glossary; References; Index.

About the Author: Professor Roger Lewis has written many books for teachers, trainers and students. He is on the editorial board of 'Open Learning' and is external examiner for an on-line masters course at the Open University. He has worked in higher education, schools, industrial training and has carried out consultancies for public and private sector organisations.

Quentin Whitlock has worked in distance learning and technology-based training for 30 years as a course designer, project manager and consultant. He has been particularly active in the training of authors in the corporate sector and has published many papers and journal articles on aspects of training design.

Reviews: '…very comprehensive, the authors bring a wealth of expertise to the book…if this is the first time you are looking to introduce and implement eLearning in your organization and you are unsure of the issues and processes then this is the book for you.' Institute of Training and Learning

'...it is very strong on setting out, considering, and applying the educational technology principles of course design the most BJET readers will be used to. Therefore, although its illustrations and case studies tend to come from the training world rather than that of education as such, it is a very good and very clear account of its subject for anyone developing e-learning, whatever the context. ... For without doubt I do advise you to get hold of this book if you have any responsibility for, or interest in the design, development, implementation and evaluation of open and/or distance learning packages distributed through email, cd-rom or the Internet, again whatever the context. ... yes, definitely - here's a book I'll use a great deal.' British Journal of Educational Technology, September 2003.

'From the first sentence, this book impressed me with its down-to-earth, practical approach. …This is a valuable reference tool for the e-learning beginner. It is also valuable for the e-learning technology specialist, as it presents a useful perspective on many other important issues that have to be accounted for if an e-learning (or blended learning) programme is to be successful.' Training Journal, September 2003

'The chapter structure is clear and the layout is excellent. …The book can be recommended as a useful tool to remind us that an e-learning programme cannot be embarked upon lightly. …The authors provide a valid framework for planning and organisation's e-learning requirements.' TrainingZONE website, September 2003

'…unlike the typical books on the subject, the author outlines what should be done but at the same time refers, through anecdotal evidence, to what should not be done.' The Cost Engineer, Nov 03

'Seldom does a text come along that thoroughly presents a topic such as e-learning in a manner that takes the guesswork out of designing, developing, and delivering learning content in a distance learning environment, How to Plan and Manage and E-learning Programme has accomplished just that. ...a well thought out and comprehensive educational programme development text. Lewis and Whitlock have certainly taken the mystic out of e-learning and shown us that the distance between traditional classroom experiences and e-learning environments is not very far indeed.' The Leadership and Organizational Development Journal, Vol 25, Issue 4 (Sept 04)

'The book is a must-have guide for those tasked with championing e-learning, designing or commissioning Programmes, and supporting and sustaining learners.' Educational Book Review (India) 09/04

This title is also available as an eBook, ISBN 978-0-566-08954-1

Extracts from this title are available to view:

Full contents list

Introduction

Chapter 11 - Managing the e-learning development team