Web-Based Training Cookbook

I got a good overview and some new insights into WBT development. The book is probably most valuable to training executives and managers than to courseware designers and developers.

There were lots of valuable project walkthroughs, which conveyed a good feel for all aspects of the process of creating web-based training programs. It includes good discussions of project management and how to create proposals to motivate the projects in the first place. I can see where Hall's focus on return on investment and how each affected worker in the project may react positively or negatively to aspects of WBT.

The book has the best and most concrete explanation of storyboarding that I have seen.

The technical stuff was pretty good, despite the fact that the book is old (mid-1997) and tools, plug-ins, and development environments have changed a lot since those ancient times. For instance, by "browser" he really means Netscape, which in the spring of 1997 had an 87% market share and represented hot technology. Now, we have the advantage of not only of a more advanced browser, but also more advanced international standards in browser authoring, such as Dynamic HTML and Cascading Style Sheets.


Highly Recommended   September 9, 1998
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This is one of the most comprehensive, training-related books I have picked up. It is suited for anyone involved in developing web-based training, and includes topics that managers will need (such as costing), and topics that the ordinary course developer can benefit from. It is technically accurate, and can be useful to training developers no matter what their level of technology-based training experience.


Good introduction to the subject.   October 3, 1998
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

This work walks the reader through all aspects of the process of creating web-based training programs. It includes good discussions of project management and authoring tools.


Too much common sense, not enough innovation.   June 13, 2000
14 out of 14 found this review helpful

I don't really know why this is called a cookbook, it isn't set up like that at all. While it does have some interesting features, I think it's a little outdated and really should be revised to discuss some of the newer technologies available to trainers. This, and because it covers a lot of the very basics, might be why it seems to be filled with too much common sense and not enough truly innovative ideas. I've seen Brandon Hall speak at training shows, and he's obviously a leader in the industry. I just didn't think this book was worth (the money). I'd say only about a quarter of the book is useful. To top it off, the CD-ROM is a waste. I wouldn't recommend this book to trainers or instructional designers with any amount of real-world experience.


I didn't like it, but you might   January 16, 2003
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

It wasn't what I thought it would be. I took a class last summer and this was the book we used. If you are a technical type of person, you might understand it, or even a business person. The first half of the book talks about how you need a proposal and how to write one, why web training is ideal for business, etc. The last half is about how to set up a training website.

The book uses a lot of case studies, which seems like a good idea, but the book uses too many, and not enough concrete examples.