I moderate reddit’s instructional design subreddit, and every so often I am messaged about “how to get started” within the instructional design field. I’ll create a separate post sometime with more tips and insights, but I wanted to share the books that I often recommend to people wanting to get started in instructional design.

The books I refer to are for adult workplace instructional design. Some of these books will still be valuable to those interested in other fields.

Instructor Led Training

These books pertain specifically to instructor led training, or what you would consider traditional training. They provide value to e-learning too.

Telling Ain’t Training: Updated, Expanded, Enhanced

My favorite company that I ever contracted for sent me Telling Ain’t Training and the next book I recommend. They ensured all of their training staff read these two books. Telling Ain’t Training gives fantastic practical advice and example activities. There is a section on e-learning at the end that introduces the concept of great online training.

The Accelerated Learning Handbook

I loved the story this one started out with. The story alone really helped set the framework that I am designing my first real instructor led training around.

Check out Brian Washburn’s list of must-reads for training for more ideas

E-Learning

These books center around e-learning. It’s important to remember that while instructor led training centers around groups, e-learning caters to an individual.

Design for How People Learn

If you read no other e-learning book, read this one. It gives such practical advice, great stories, and really resonated with me. I often refer to it when speaking with colleagues who are new to e-learning, or who still have dated ideas about what e-learning should look like. She is releasing a newer edition in December that you can pre-order.

Michael Allen’s Guide to E-Learning

Oldie, but goodie. I took an ATD certificate course, and the instructor was a previous employee of Michael Allen’s. That session really changed my life and made me fall completely in love with e-learning and its capabilities. She referenced many of his examples and the book was a prerequisite to the course. He is also releasing an new addition in December that I plan on picking up in a heartbeat.

e-Learning and the Science of Instruction

If you’re looking for a “textbook” on e-learning, this is it. It is a comprehensive guide on best practices based on research and practical examples of great e-learning. I reference it frequently, especially chapter 4.

What are your recommendations?

Include them below, and I’ll include a link in my post (and if you include your website, I’ll put that in too!)

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