The eLearning Learning Summer Reading List

We reached out to some of our favorite eLearning thought leaders to get the word on must-read titles this summer. We recommend you bookmark this page - no matter whether you make your way through the list during the summer, fall, or winter, it's filled with helpful resources to integrate into your work in 2019.

Books

The Gamification of Learning and Instruction, Karl Kapp.

"This book provides a solid foundation for how gamification works from a learning and development perspective. It covers academic ground, in an accessible, open manner and it's a fun read." - Karl Kapp

Manage Memory for Deeper Learning, Patti Shank.

"Does your content interfere with learning? This book shows you how to work within the attributes and limitations of memory, so people can learn, remember, and apply. All tactics are concise, research-driven, and easy to apply. This is one of the books in Patti Shank's Deeper Learning series of books." - Patti Shank

Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace, Gordon MacKenzie.

"It’s perfectly subversive." - Connie Malamed

Visual Design Solutions: Principles and Creative Inspiration for Learning Professionals, Connie Malamed.

"This informal and friendly book guides you through the process and principles used by professional graphic designers. It also presents creative solutions and examples that you can start using right away. Anyone who envisions, designs, or creates instructional or informational graphics will benefit from the design strategies laid out in this comprehensive resource." - Connie Malamed

Brain Matters: How to Help Anyone Learn Anything Using Neuroscience, Margie Meacham.

"If you had the chance to be with DaVinci, Galileo or Curie at their greatest moment of discovery, would you take it? If you said “yes,” then you’re in luck. Neuroscience is starting to unlock the code that makes the brain work, giving educators, teachers, corporate trainers and mentors powerful new tools. In a series of short essays, Margie Meacham leads the reader inside the human brain and links scientific discoveries to practical applications for anyone who wants to help people learn. A quick and accessible read, this book is deceptively simple with lots of great information for the learning professional." - Margie Meacham

Millennials, Goldfish & Other Training Misconceptions, Clark Quinn.

"Clark Quinn's book on debunking learning myths lines up falsehoods and knocks them down one by one with evidence. We don't really have shorter memories than goldfish, we use much more than 10% of our brains, and tailoring content to match a person's learning style doesn't improve results. This is a solid, easy-to-understand reference to consult when stakeholders or peers make claims that aren't actually supported by research--and perhaps to help debunk some of your own misconceptions about how to develop effective learning experiences." - Christy Tucker

Revolutionize L&D, Clark Quinn.

"Learning and development practitioners and managers must increasingly face the fact that old methods are no longer relevant in today's tech-savvy world and, in many cases, they simply don't work. In Revolutionize Learning and Development, you get a straightforward look at how people really learn and get introduced to practical steps for rethinking, redesigning, and reestablishing learning delivery. This book shows you how to take advantage of new understandings and new technologies so you can make a meaningful impact on your organization." - Clark Quinn

Digital Learning in Organizations, Steve Wheeler.

"Digital Learning in Organizations shows L&D professionals how to make sure that their workforce is 'digitally ready' and has the skills, capabilities and understanding needed to capitalize on the opportunities created by learning technologies and to feel confident in their ability to get the most out of them. It includes guidance on how technologies can be used to improve both social and personal learning, how the increased flexibility created by technology enables a multi-located workforce to develop simultaneously, and discussion of how to ensure that technology really does facilitate employee development and doesn't become a distraction." - Steve Wheeler

The eLearning Designer's Handbook, Tim Slade.

"The eLearning Designer's Handbook prooves that the eLearning development process doesn’t have to be as complicated as it might seem. If you’re new to eLearning, this book will walk you through the complete eLearning design and development process, providing you practical tips and advice that you can immediately apply to your next eLearning project." - Tim Slade

Performance Consulting: A Strategic Process to Improve, Measure, and Sustain Organizational Results, Dana Gaines Robinson, James C. Robinson, Jack J. Phillips, Patricia Pulliam Phillips, and Dick Handshaw.

"This book covers a topic everyone in L&D should know. It is a must-read to help avoid “jumping to solutions” before identifying to true problem. Taking a performance consulting approach helps us work with stakeholders to clarify business goals and determine root causes for gaps between desired and current results. With these identified, then we're ready to find the right solutions. " - Mike Taylor


eBooks

Modern Workplace Learning 2019, Jane Hart.

"In this eBook, I review the need for a new model of workplace learning, and provide guidance on developing modern training as well enabling modern learning in the workplace." - Jane Hart

The Four responsibilities of the Learning Professional, Clive Shepherd.

"As learning professionals, we have to face the challenges imposed by change as well as take advantage of the opportunities. The effort is worth it, because this is a career in which you can express your creativity and provide a service that simply can’t be beaten – that of helping people to fulfil their potential, to grow in confidence and self-belief to such an extent that they have no need for you any longer. I hope this short book will inspire you to assert your own status as a learning professional and to encourage your colleagues to do the same." - Clive Shepherd

How to Design a Great Microlearning Experience, Suresh Kumar.

"Microlearning is proving to be one of the best strategies to address information overload and knowledge retention. This method is popular because the content is short and relevant to the learners. This E-Book, "How to Design a Great Microlearning Experience" will guide you through creating and measuring the success of microlearning" - Suresh Kumar


Articles

Does Video Improve Engagement and Learning?, Patti Shank.

"There's a lot of hype about what video can do for learning. But what does research say? Patti Shank digs into the research about video and engagement." - Patti Shank

Does Time Matter For Learning? It Does., Patti Shank.

"Everyone is talking about how to make instruction shorter. But shorter can shortchange participants and lead to poorer results. Patti Shank explains what research says about when and how time matters for good learning outcomes." - Patti Shank

Microlearning, Macrolearning. What Does Research Tell Us?, Patti Shank.

"Microlearning is often talked about in L&D. But it can be the wrong approach in many situations. Patti Shank discusses what research says about when and how it's most useful." - Patti Shank