E-Learning Solutions on a Shoestring: Help for the Chronically Underfunded Trainer

Acknowledgments.

Introduction: Getting the Most from This Resource.

Chapter 1: e-Learning: Some Basics.

What Is e-Learning?

Why Use e-Learning?

Moving from Classroom to Online.

Some New Ways of Thinking.

Avoiding Costly Mistakes.

Using e-Learning: Buy Off-the-Shelf or Build It Yourself?

Summary.

PART ONE: DOING IT YOURSELF.

Chapter 2: Getting Started with Doing It Yourself.

Take Inventory: You Probably Have More Than You Think.

What Else Should You Have?

User Considerations.

Want versus Need: What Will Meet Your Objectives?

Summary.

Chapter 3: Building Simple Pages and Programs.

Using What You Already Have: MS Office Products and MS Paint.

Time to Move Up? More Advanced Design Tools.

Summary.

Chapter 4: Enhancing Basic Programs.

Free Clip Art and Other Media.

Free Design Templates.

Free Interactivity Tools.

Free Microsoft Downloads.

Macromedia Coursebuilder.

Design Tips and Tricks.

Summary.

Chapter 5: Creating Inexpensive Quizzes, Games, Searches, Puzzles, and Simulations.

Quizzes.

Games.

Searches: Treasure Hunts and Web Quests.

Puzzles.

Simulations.

Summary.

Chapter 6: Creating Low-Cost Collaboration.

Synchronous or Asynchronous Collaboration?

Synchronous Tools.

Asynchronous Tools.

Creating Collaborative Activities.

Summary.

Chapter 7: Creating Performance Support Tools on a Shoestring.

When to Use Performance Support Tools.

Which Tool to Use.

Performance Support Tools: Some Examples.

Summary.

Chapter 8: Leveraging Resources.

Sharing.

Networking.

Bartering.

Inexpensive—and Possibly Free—Help.

Repurposing and Reusing.

Summary.

PART TWO: BUYING YOUR SOLUTIONS.

Chapter 9: Paying Someone Else to Build for You.

What Are You Buying?

How Much Does It Cost?

What Affects Costs?

How to Save on Costs.

Beware of Hidden Costs.

Doing Business: The Bid and Request for Proposal Process.

Choosing a Vendor for Developing Custom Content.

Summary.

Chapter 10: Buying Off-the-Shelf Courses.

Déjà Vu: Buy or Build?

Know Your Criteria.

Customizing OTS Products by Adding On, Not Renovating.

Tips for Working with Vendors of OTS Products.

The Portal Alternative.

Summary.

PART THREE: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER.

Chapter 11: Hosting Your Programs and Tracking Learner Data.

Hosting.

Tracking Learner Data.

Moving Up: Do You Need a Learning Management System?

Tracking: A Recap.

Summary.

Chapter 12: Application.

Mixing It Up: Matching Approaches to Learners and Learning Styles.

Cases: The Buy-or-Build Decision.

Cases: Assembling Tools and Approaches to Create e-Learning Programs.

Summary.

References and Other Sources.

Additional Resources.

Index.

About the Author.