New Resources by Clark Aldrich

I’ve done a lot of work these past years with Clark Aldrich, we’ve worked on a project together for a large pharma client and we both sit on a governmental Training and Educational advisory board so we’ve been spending some time together.

I actually first met Clark in the back of a van leaving a training conference on a Friday afternoon to fly home. The conference was pretty much a bust except for meeting Clark. He told me he was working on a book called “Simulations and the Future of E-Learning.” He asked me if I would mind reading over it. I said “sure.” He said he was sending it to the publisher on Monday…

We’ll in spite of the short deadline, I read the book over the weekend (loved it) and even made a few comments that eventually made it into the book. So then Clark contributed to “Gadgets, Games and Gizmos for Learning” concerning some research he had done with simulations.

Now Clark has another book out “Learning Online with Games, Simulations and Virtual Worlds.” The book is a great overview of the use of games, simulations and virtual worlds for education. It is divided in to four parts. The first is an overview of the many reasons for thinking about using these technologies and it outlines the drivers moving education in that direction. The second part details how to use a game, simulation or virtual world for your educational needs and how to access the outcomes. The third part covers the issues of using a games, simulation or virtual world in your instruction, including advice on how to politically build a case (always important). Finally the book suggests that distributed education may drive the growth of games, simulations and virtual worlds more than face-to-face classroom instruction. Look for a few cameos by me in this book as well.

Clark always provides a fun read and causes you to stop and think. If you have some time or interest in these subjects, pick up the book it will be educational and even, I dare say, entertaining.

Also, Clark has recently published his third book (his trilogy is complete) called The Complete Guide to Simulations and Serious Games: How the Most Valuable Content Will be Created in the Age Beyond Gutenberg to Google. He calls this the “big book” and it is big, 576 pages. But it is designed as a reference book, primer and encyclopedia all rolled into one. It has great information, ideas and concepts that help help you design interactivity into your e-learning programs (something that is sorely needed.)

Here are Clark’s new books:

Here are Clark’s older works:

Catalog of Recommended Books, Games and Gadgets
Recommended Games and Gadgets
Recommended Books
Content Guide