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Multimedia-Based Instructional Design William W. Lee and Diana L. Owens. 2004. 2nd ed. San Francisco: Pfeiffer. [ISBN 0-7879-7069-7. 451 pages, including index and CD-ROM. $62.00 USD.]
The second edition of Multimedia-based instructional design is a vast improvement over the first. The additional content, templates, and CD-ROM provide both the beginning and the advanced instructional designer with a great reference. The writing style of each chapter follows the KISS (keep it short and simple) method. The book takes a sectional approach using the ADDIE principle of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. Every template, checklist, and document referenced in each chapter can be found in the appendixes, as well as on the CD for immediate use.
The main thesis of the book appears when William Lee and Diana Owens state, "Designing training for the Web follows the same ID [instructional design] process as any other medium. You must first establish a framework of specifications and standards; then develop the media elements that fit the framework; and finally review, revise, and implement the end product" (p. 190). This is a powerful statement that sets the background for the ID process...