About the Authors

Michael-2 Michael Allen, PhD, is a recognized leader in e-learning. He has made career-long contributions by inventing and sharing effective interactive multimedia learning strategies and authoring tools. He has nearly 45 years of professional, academic, and corporate experience in teaching, developing, and marketing interactive learning and performance support systems; and he has led teams of doctorate-level specialists in learning research, instructional design, computer-based training, and human engineering. For decades, he has concentrated on defining unique methods of instructional design and development that provide meaningful and memorable learning experiences through “true” cognitive interactivity. He shares his insights through his writing, speaking, seminars, and examples. He is now, once again, developing software to ease the development of excellent learning experiences and help children creatively express “what they know.”In May 2011, he received ASTD’s Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning and Performance Award. In May 2012, Allen was selected by The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) Advisory Committee as a recipient of the 2012 Ellis Island Medal of Honor.Allen is currently chairman & CEO of Allen Interactions Inc. His clients include the most known and respected public corporations and professional associations.

Allen was the director of advanced educational systems research and development of Control Data Corporation’s famous PLATO computer-based education system used around the world. He was the founder, and former chairman of Authorware, Inc. and also the primary architect of Authorware Professional, which was based on Allen’s extensive research on creativity and creative problem-solving. It became a groundbreaking authoring tool combining power and ease of use, and ultimately the industry standard. Authorware, Inc. merged with Macromind/Paracomp to become Macromedia, which was later acquired by Adobe.

Julie-2 Julie Dirksen is an independent consultant and instructional designer who has more than 15 years’ experience creating highly interactive e-Learning experiences for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative technology startups to major grant-funded research initiatives. Her focus has been on utilizing the disciplines of educational psychology, neuroscience, change management and persuasive technology to promote and support the improvement of peoples’ lives through sustainable long-term learning and behavioral change.Ms. Dirksen holds an M.S. degree in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University.  She has also been an adjunct faculty member at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, where she taught courses in Project Management, Instructional Design and Cognitive Psychology.She’s recently published a book called Design For How People Learn (http://www.designforhowpeoplelearn.com), in which she gets ridiculously excited about everything from learning applications of behavioral economics to the way glucose is regulated in the brain. She’s happiest whenever she gets to learn something new and you can find her online at www.usablelearning.com.
clark-2 Clark Quinn, Ph.D., provides strategic solutions to Fortune 500, education, government, and not-for-profit organizations through Quinnovation. Previously, he headed research and development efforts for Knowledge Universe Interactive Studio, and held management positions at Open Net and Access CMC, two Australian initiatives in internet-based multimedia and education.Clark is a recognized scholar in the field of learning technology, having held positions at the University of New South Wales, the University of Pittsburgh’s Learning Research and Development Center, and San Diego State University’s Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education. Clark earned a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from the University of California, San Diego, after working for DesignWare, an early educational software company.Clark has a track record of innovation, starting as part of a project conducting learning discussion via email in 1979(!), and has consistently led development of advanced uses of technology including mobile, performance support, intelligently adaptive learning systems, and award-winning online content, educational computer games, and websites. Clark keynotes both nationally and internationally, and is the author of numerous articles, chapters and the booksEngaging LearningDesigning mLearning, and The Mobile Academy. In 2012 he was designated the eLearning Guild’s first Guild Master. Clark blogs at Learnlets and tweets as @Quinnovator.
Will-2 Will Thalheimer is a learning expert, researcher, instructional designer, business strategist, speaker, and writer. Dr. Thalheimer has worked in the learning-and-performance field since 1985.He was the project manager for the first commercially-viable computer-based leadership simulation, The Complete Manager. He led the Strategic Management Group’s product line, Leading for Business Results, increasing revenues fourfold. He has trained managers to be leaders at numerous Fortune 500 companies, teaching such topics as leadership, persuasion, conflict resolution, and business strategy. He has led change management efforts and workshops.In 1998, Dr. Thalheimer founded Work-Learning Research to bridge the gap between research and practice, to compile research on learning, and disseminate research findings to help chief learning officers, instructional designers, trainers, e-learning developers, performance consultants, and learning executives build more effective learning-and-performance interventions and environments.

His clients have included giant multinationals, e-learning companies, government agencies, and institutions of higher learning. Short list: Walgreens, UNUM, Microsoft, MIT, Pfizer, Allen Interactions, Type A Learning Agency, eInstruction, Monitor Group, ADP, Questionmark, Midi Compliance Solutions, Facility Einstein, Defense Intelligence Agency, The eLearning Guild, Rockwell, Raytheon, Boeing, Kodak, AGFA, AMD, PPG, Nabisco, Ericsson, Abbott, Novartis, SMG, and the U.S. Postal Service. His research and writings have led the field in providing practical research-based recommendations through his online publications www.work-learning.com/catalog.html, published articles, his industry-leading blogwww.willatworklearning.com and Twitter @WillWorkLearn.

Dr. Thalheimer speaks regularly at national and international conferences. His conference presentations always receive numerous evaluation-sheet comments like the following: “This was one of the best presentations I attended—solid information delivered in a style that helped me learn.”

Will holds a BA from the Pennsylvania State University, an MBA from Drexel University, and a PhD in Educational Psychology: Human Learning and Cognition from Columbia University.


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