Michael W. Allen

Allen, 2009

Michael W. Allen (born 1946) is an American software developer, educator, and author. He is known for pioneering work on e-learning, and led the development of the Authorware software.

Biography

Allen received a BA in psychology from Cornell College, and MA and Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in educational psychology.^[1] From 1971 to 1984 Allen worked for Control Data Corporation on its PLATO computer-based education system . He rose to be director of advanced educational systems R&D. Allen founded Authorware in 1984, incorporating it in 1985. Authorware merged with MacroMind-Paracomp in 1992 to form Macromedia, which was later bought by Adobe Systems.^[2]

Allen formed a spinoff of the professional services division of Authorware called MediaPros, which was acquired by Lifetouch, Inc. a year later.^[3]

He founded Allen Interactions, Inc. in 1993, acting as chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The company designs custom interactive e-learning applications and provides consulting and training services.^[2]

He founded Allen Learning Technologies in 2010 and serves as chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The company announced project Zebra in 2010, a new e-learning authoring system.^[4]

He is associated with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health as an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.^[5] He consulted on a study that used e-learning to reduce the spread of HIV.^{[6] [7]}

Allen is the author of several books, and is editor of Michael Allen’s e-Learning Annual, first published in February 2008.^[8] In May 2011 the American Society for Training & Development presented him a distinguished contribution award.^[5]

Books

• Michael Allen's Guide to e-Learning. Wiley. 2002. ISBN 9780471203025. 
• Creating Successful E-Learning : A Rapid System For Getting It Right First Time, Every Time. Pfeiffer. 2006. ISBN 9780787983000. 
• Designing Successful e-Learning, Michael Allen's Online Learning Library: Forget What You Know About Instructional Design and Do Something Interesting. Pfeiffer. 2007. ISBN 9780787982997. 
• Successful e-Learning Interface: Making Learning Technology Polite, Effective, and Fun. Pfeiffer. 2011. ISBN 9780787982973. 
• Michael Allen's 2008 e-Learning Annual. Pfeiffer. 2008. ISBN 9780787987435. 
• Michael Allen's 2009 e-Learning Annual. Pfeiffer. 2009. ISBN 9780470371459. 
• Michael Allen's 2012 e-Learning Annual. Pfeiffer. 2011. ISBN 9780470913826. 

References

1. ^ "Leadership Team". Allen Interactions. Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20090105170354/http://www.alleni.com/about/team.asp. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Our e-Learning Team". Allen Interactions Inc.. http://www.alleninteractions.com/our-e-learning-team. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
3. ^ "Learning Executive, Michael Allen, is Recognized by the American Society for Training & Development". News release. June 3, 2011. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/06/03/prweb8525049.DTL. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
4. ^ "Allen Learning Technologies". Portfolio Companies. Gramercy Private Equity. http://www.gramercype.com/allen.html. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "ASTD Presents Michael Allen with its Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning and Performance Award". May 24, 2011. http://www.astd.org/NR/rdonlyres/4DBF88E9-17B8-4801-8AC8-5AC716695250/0/2010DistinguishedAllenFINAL.pdf. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
6. ^ B.R. Simon Rosser et al. (August 24, 2010). "Reducing HIV risk behavior of men who have sex with men through persuasive computing: results of the Men’s INTernet Study-II". AIDS (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins) 24: 2099–2107. doi:10.1097/QAD.0b013e32833c4ac7. http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/faculty/detels/Epi293/Riskbehav_AIDS_2010.pdf. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
7. ^ "Faculty & Staff". HIV/STI Intervention & Prevention Studies web site. University of Minnesota School of Public Health. http://www.sph.umn.edu/epi/research/hips/faculty.asp. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
8. ^ Michael Allen's 2008 E-Learning Annual. John Wiley and Sons. 2008. ISBN 9780787987435. http://books.google.com/books?id=BDaQeqJAJwgC. 

External links

• Ryann Ellis (July 2004). "Down with Boring E-Learning! Interview with e-learning guru Dr. Michael W. Allen". Learning Circuits blog. http://www.astd.org/LC/2004/0704_allen.htm. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
• "Project Zebra". beta web site. http://www.zebrabeta.com/. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 

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Name	Allen, Michael W.
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Date of birth	1946
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