Designing Web-Based Training - How to teach anyone anything anywhere anytime
by William Horton
If you've considered offering Web Based Training (WBT) as part of your virtual services, but haven't taken the plunge yet,
Designing Web-Based Training is the book for you. While WBT is fairly new, the author has been involved with network-based courses since the early 70s. In the FAQ section,
Horton writes that this book is his answer to the question, "Say Bill, you've been doing this web based training for a while. What do I need to know?" While the copyright of this book is 2000, ancient in technological terms, this title is not a step-by-step book on how to use specific technology, but rather
a roadmap on how to design a great and effective WBT program using technology.
The book is organized into 14 chapters. The first three chapters give a good overview of WBT. First covered, is the
history and technologies that contributed to WBT. There is a section on learning, not from a scientific point of view, but from a general view. The point is to provide information that the reader can apply later, when they get into designing the WBT program. Horton then
helps us evaluate if WBT is the right tool for what we want to accomplish. And lastly, one of the most important steps in the process is choosing an approach. This chapter
guides you through the big-picture decision that determine the basic nature of your course. Some considerations are:
> Will the course be instructor led?
> Is there an established schedule or can students proceed at their own pace?
> How large are classes or are there classes at all?
> What technology would best serve the chosen approach?
> and more.
The next four chapters cover the crux of how to design the training program. It starts with
building the framework for the course, We ask questions such as:
> Who is the course geared for?
> What are the prerequisites and technical requirements?
> What is the course syllabus?
> Will students be graded?
> and more.
The three chapters that follow cover how to
organize training segments, common
learning activities that enhance the students experience and how to
measure the students progress with testing and feedback. Some of these may apply to your course framework and some may not, but all three chapters had great information about how to create a more effective WBT program.
Topics that enhance your WBT program are covered in the next three chapters. We start with
online collaboration tools, such as email, chat, discussion groups, screen sharing and conferencing. Next, advice on
how to conduct an online virtual classroom is included. This is not a "how-to" on online classrooms, but rather a guide for how to manage and direct the flow of the class. Finally, since electronic courses have higher drop-out rates than do traditional classes, there is a chapter on
how to motivate students to continue the class to completion.
The next three chapters of the book cover how to increase the scope of your WBT program. The author shows how you can
broaden your design for people in different countries, cultures and time zones. Because many people are intimidated by technology, a chapter is devoted to
overcoming technical hurdles to keep your WBT running smoothly and your students engaged. Lastly, the authors suggests ways to
add alternatives and adjuncts to your WBT course with the use of online libraries, museums, glossaries, calculators and other tools.
The book closes with the author's thoughts on where WBT is going.
Designing Web-Based Training is not a traditional "how-to" book with step-by-step directions on how to design your web based training program. Nor is it a guide on how to use online tools like virtual classrooms and meeting places. Instead, the
book provides teaching methods and information on how people learn, so you can design an effective training program. While specific online tools are not covered, there is an overview of the types of tools available and which are the best suited for implementing the type of WBT program you've designed.
I've contemplated offering a WBT program, but anytime I've actually tried to sketch out a program, I've stalled out.
I didn't even know what questions to ask. After reading this book, I'm inspired to give it another try.
Anyone considering a WBT program would benefit from the wealth of information Horton provides.
Pros
1. The book provides an excellent overview of all the considerations one should take when designing a WBT program.
2. I liked that Horton included sections about how people learn and offered different types of learning activities to enhance the student's retention of material.
Cons - none!
Overall, Laserdog gives this book three enthusiastic wags of the tail - a top dog rating!
The first edition of this book was published in 2000 and has 640 pages. The price of the book is $31.17. Click here to buy the book..
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BOOK REVIEW - Designing Web-Based Training
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