An Overview of

Online Learning
Second Edition

Saul Carliner

HRD Press, Inc. Amherst Massachusetts

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 Table of Contents
Preface .............................................................................................. vii
About This Overview ................................................................. vii
Who Should Read This Overview ............................................. vii
Primary Users .............................................................................vii
Secondary Users .........................................................................vii
How the Overview Is Organized .............................................. viii
Changes in the Second Edition ................................................... ix
Acknowledgments ............................................................................ xi
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Online Learning ........................... 1
Online Learning: A Definition ..................................................... 1
What Does Online Learning Look Like? .....................................2
How Does Online Learning Compare with
Distance Learning? .................................................................... 4
How Does Online Learning Compare with E-learning,
Web-based Training, and Computer-based Training? .......... 4
Is Online Learning More Effective than Classroom
Learning?.....................................................................................6
Will Online Learning Replace the Classroom? .......................... 7
What are the Key Considerations in Planning an Online
Learning Program? ................................................................... 7
Consideration 1: Learning Goals ................................................8
Consideration 2: Technology .....................................................11
Consideration 3: Project Issues ..................................................13
Chapter 2: Learning Goals ............................................................ 15
About Learning Goals ................................................................ 16
Starting at the End .................................................................... 16
Moving Beyond the Boundaries of the Classroom .................. 18
Formal Learning Online ............................................................ 19
Learning through Online Education ......................................... 19
Learning through Online Training ............................................ 25
Adapting Formal Learning to the Computer ............................ 28
iv An Overview of Online Learning

Informal Learning Online .......................................................... 29

Learning through Knowledge Management ............................. 30
Learning through Electronic Performance Support .................. 33

Blending Different Types of Learning ...................................... 36

Learn More about the Contexts of Learning Online ................ 38

Chapter 3: The Technology of Online Learning .......................... 39

Technology for Developing Online Learning Programs ......... 41
A Background .............................................................................. 42
Consider the End Product First ................................................ 44
The Storyboard: A Tool to Visualize the End Product ............. 44
The User Interface: A Central Element of an Online
Learning Program ................................................................. 46
Characteristics of a Good User Interface ................................. 47
The Components or Building Blocks of the
Learning Program .................................................................. 49

Productivity Tools for Simple Text and Graphics ................... 51

What Productivity Tools Are .................................................... 51
When to Use Productivity Tools ............................................... 52
Issues to Consider When Using Productivity Tools ................. 53

Media Production Tools for Creating Complex Images ......... 53

What Media Production Tools Are ........................................... 53
When to Use Media Production Tools ..................................... 57
Issues to Consider When Using Media Production Tools ........ 58

The Tools Needed to Integrate Individual Components

in a Single Program ................................................................. 62
Tools Needed to Prepare an Asynchronous
Learning Program ................................................................. 62
Tools Needed to Prepare a Synchronous Learning
Experience: Virtual Classroom Software............................... 70

The Technology for Managing Online Learning ..................... 73

Learning Management Systems ................................................ 74
Hybrid Systems ......................................................................... 79
Table of Contents v

Learning Content Management Systems .................................. 80

Specialized Software...................................................................83
Standards.....................................................................................83

The Technology for Delivering Online Learning ..................... 85

Choosing Technologies to Assist with Delivery
on a Network ........................................................................ 86
Delivering the Learning Program ...............................................91
What Does this Mean to Someone Developing Online
Learning Programs? ................................................................95
Consider the Hardware and Software Available to
Individual Learners .................................................................96
What a Learner’s Configuration Means to Someone
Developing Online Learning Programs ................................ 98
Learn More About the Technology for Delivering
Online Learning .................................................................... 99

Chapter 4: Project and Learning Considerations ..................... 101

Overview of Project and Learning Issues .............................. 101
Issues Associated with a Strategy for Moving to Online
Learning ................................................................................. 103
Issues Associated with Designing and Developing Online
Courses ................................................................................... 107
Similarities with Design for the Classroom and
Workbook ................................................................................108
Differences between Online Course Design and
Traditional Course Design ................................................... 109
Analysis Issues......................................................................... 110
Design Issues .......................................................................... 120
A Case Study in Needs Analysis ......................................... 133
A Case Study of an Online Community of Practice............ 135
A Case Study of a Simulation Learning Experience ........... 136
A Case Study of Advanced Professional Training............... 137
Developing the Components.................................................... 137
Developing Your Skills............................................................ 140
Managing the Process .............................................................. 144
Producing the Learning Program............................................. 145
Testing the Components............................................................147
vi An Overview of Online Learning

Maintaining and Supporting the Online

Learning Program ................................................................. 148
Distributing and Marketing the Learning Program ................. 148
Supporting the Learning Program ........................................... 149
Maintaining the Learning Program.......................................... 150
Evaluating the Learning Program............................................ 152

Purchasing Software and Services ........................................... 157

Types of Services Purchased ................................................... 157
Issues to Consider When Purchasing....................................... 158
To Learn More About Online Program Development............. 159

Appendix ........................................................................................ 161

Glossary of Terms Used in Online Learning ...............................205

 Preface
About This Overview
An Overview of Online Learning introduces the reader to online learning
and addresses the key issues that should be considered before develop-
ing or participating in online learning. Specifically, this overview

• Describes what online learning is and identifies its major uses.

• Identifies the four major types of online learning.
• Outlines the technology needed to make online learning work.
• Lists the project issues—that is, the management considerations
and design challenges—that need to be addressed before develop-
ing materials for online learning.
Note, however, that this book is intended only to introduce you to
online learning. It is not intended to provide you with detailed
instructions on how to develop an online learning program or use
online learning technology.

Who Should Read This Overview

This book has been re-written to address the needs of four different
audiences:

Primary Users
People with education or training backgrounds who have little experi-
ence with online learning

Secondary Users
• People with backgrounds other than training who will play a role
in online learning
viii An Overview of Online Learning

• People who have experience developing online learning, but

are interested in having a framework for understanding its
complexities
• People who have read the earlier version of this book and want to
familiarize themselves with the updated content

How the Overview Is Organized

The book has been organized into four chapters:

1. An introduction to online learning. The chapter starts with a

quick introduction to online learning and moves on to identify
the topics that are addressed in-depth later in the book.
2. Learning goals. This chapter provides detailed information on
each of the major types of online learning—knowledge manage-
ment, performance support, and training and education.
3. Learning technology. This chapter provides a simplified
overview of the technology needed to create, deliver, and manage
online learning. More than anything, the goal of this section is to
familiarize you with the technical issues that must be considered,
rather than provide you with a detailed listing of all the available
technologies. Supplying such a list would be an admittedly futile
effort; within a few months of writing the list, the technology
would have changed anyway.
4. Project issues. The chapter discusses several issues that must be
considered when planning any online learning project. These
issues include project issues, people management, and learning
issues.

This new edition also includes sample designs for two online learning
lessons: one module from a compliance-training course, and one
module from a product training course. A glossary of helpful terms
and definitions appears in the back. When appropriate, related
resources, especially those that are available online, will be listed.
Preface ix

Changes in the Second Edition

The general structure of the second edition of An Overview of Online
Learning has not changed since the first edition.

There are, however, important changes to the content. These changes

result from two trends: a growing maturity within the field and of
online learning and the emergence of a new class of technology.
Specifically, the following areas in this second edition reflect new
understanding:

• Learning Goals (chapter 2). The distinction between formal and

informal learning has been clarified as interest in informal online
learning has grown. Learning goals are now grouped according to
whether they are formal or informal, and the description of online
collaboration has been dropped because online collaboration
usually happens within the context of some other form of learning.
This chapter also includes an expanded discussion of “blended”
learning, which has become more popular since the first edition was
published. (Blending mixes online and classroom learning and for-
mal and informal learning into a single learning program.)
• Learning Technology (chapter 3). The classifications of technology
for developing and delivering learning have remained remarkably
stable, but there is now a new class of technology for helping organi-
zations administer learning programs (referred to as learning man-
agement systems). Another new class of technology, which is also
described in this chapter, has emerged to help course designers and
developers use content that has already been developed for other
purposes: learning content management systems.
• Project Issues (chapter 4). This chapter addresses the same types
of issues covered in the first edition, but also reflects the wisdom
of additional years of collective experience with online learning.
In addition to explaining how instructional design and
development vary for classroom and online learning, this chapter
also covers how to develop a strategy for moving learning online,
issues to consider when purchasing technology and services, and
how to support and maintain an online learning program.