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EMS Education Tips

3 Books on E-Learning Design

When I first started designing and producing continuing and refresher education programs for EMTs and Paramedics I jumped right in by applying knowledge I already had about adult education and PowerPoint design.

Along the way through a lot of trial and error I have steadily improved the instructional design process I use. This process includes understanding user needs, writing a lesson script based on objectives, creating visuals that minimize text, and replacing static content with dynamic and interactive learning objects whenever appropriate. I have also been guided by three excellent books: slide:ology, Presentation Zen, and Becoming a Rapid E-Learning Pro.

Almost all of my e-learning projects start as a PowerPoint slide deck that is converted to Flash using Articulate Presenter. Two design books that have helped me improve the quality of our PowerPoint slides are:
1. slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations
2. Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Voices That Matter)

A third outstanding resource is the free ebook you receive after subscribing to the Articulate Rapid eLearning Blog by Tom Kuhlmann. His book and weekly blog posts are must reads for any elearning designer. His principles and tips are applicable to elearning in general and not just to Articulate.

Do you have any favorite PowerPoint and E-Learning Design books and resources?

By Greg Friese

Greg Friese, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is an author, educator, paramedic, and marathon runner.

Greg was the co-host of the award winning EMSEduCast podcast, the only podcast by and for EMS educators. Greg has written for EMS1.com, JEMS.com, Wilderness Medical Associates, JEMS Magazine, EMSWorld.com and EMS World Magazine, and the NAEMSE Educator Newsletter.