As an eLearning professional it is vital to brush up on basic skills every now and then. That's why in SHIFT we are constantly looking for new books/ eBooks to read and famous classics we may have missed.

Here’s a collection of 10 essential books you should read as an eLearning professional:

Michael Allen’s Guide to eLearning

Has been called the ultimate resource to beat boring online training. Allen provides us with everything we need to design and develop powerful, engaging and effective courses, weaving real world examples throughout. He gives us practical tips on how-to and when to apply the different techniques. If you are really interested in learning more on what makes good eLearning, or are considering improving your eLearning courseware, we totally recommend it. 

The Non-Designer’s Design Book, 3rd Edition by Robin Williams

An essential read for every Instructional Designer. This book is the one place you can turn to find quick and truly effective design tips. This best seller author highlights the basic principles of good design and helps you take notice of how you can apply them to eLearning design. She provides a guide to creating more sophisticated, interesting and professional designs quickly. 

Design For How People Learn (Voices that Matter)

This is one of those books that we strongly recommend. It’s easy to read, and very practical on basic instructional design. The author explains clearly how people learn and how eLearning professionals can spark reactions within students. More specifically, the book uses the elements behind learning, memory and attention to create content that improve learner retention and focus. If you’re just getting started and want to know more about instructional design in relationship to how people learn, it’s the ideal resource!

701 eLearning Tips from the Masie Center (Free Digital ebook)

This is a collection of 141 pages and 14 chapters, covering the main eLearning tips from all times. These tips are from senior managers and training professionals from major companies around the world. Specially take a look (and print) page 139, which has Elliot Massie’s Personal eLearning Tips.

58 Tips for Breakthrough eLearning Instructional Design

Also an eBook that captures knowledge and expertise from the 14 presenters of May’s 2012 Online Forum, “eLearning Instructional Design: Advanced and Breakthrough Techniques.” This is a must-read for ideas on refreshing any ID approach. The 58 tips included in the eBook offer advice and information on topics such as new design trends, techniques, and other innovations. We bet these tips will enhance the way you design eLearning. 

62 Tips on Effective Instructional Design (New eBook)

Short and to the point with actionable tips on different topics: making learning stick, effective instructional design and development, managing project costs and time, demonstrating your value, documenting and managing your designs and standards, design for mobile, and personalizing learning. Also a collection of eLearning design-related tips from eLearning professionals with a variety of expertise. You will definitely enjoy reading these valuable nuggets of information! 

The Power of Habit

This book reveals what people call “the secret weapon of learning professionals”. Charles Duhigg takes the reader to the scientific origin of why habits exist and how they can be changed. This reading teaches that the key to achieving success in everything we do relies in understanding how habits work. It's a great reading to start thinking how we can take advantage of habits in the eLearning industry. If we can reflect behaviors directly into the deepest part of our learner’s brain, we would achieve the ultimate learning experience.

Lessons in Learning, eLearning, and Training: Perspectives and Guidance for the Enlightened Trainers

A Must-Read! From Roger C. Schank- one of the most highly cherished writers and speakers in the training, and eLearning industry. This book explores the several challenges faced by today’s instructional designers and trainers. Ruth Clark sums up this book in the foreword: "The basic premise of this book is that learning is an inductive process. In everyday words, learning occurs by experience, and the best instruction offers learners opportunities to distill their knowledge and skills from interactive stories."

The 24 Greatest eLearning tips and tricks (New ebook--Free)

Recently, we compiled the 24 greatest eLearning tricks and practical tips in this brand new guide, so eLearning professionals can get a great head start into this New Year. This ebook is a simple antidote to boring and passive learning. We’ve discovered that few eLearning developers and trainers feel their courses are truly engaging. Therefore, we created this guide to generating more engaging eLearning courses easily and quickly.

Best Practices- eLearning Design & Development

This is one of those eBooks that we happened to stumble upon while searching Pinterest. CommLab India has compiled this handy guide to help eLearning professionals through the process of eLearning Design and Development. It’s a 28 page ebook that will teach you in simple terms (and very graphically) how to build professional, engaging and interactive eLearning courses that meet your specific training objectives. 

Obviously there are many good books from which to choose, but for now, these are the best we recommend this 2013.  Which books would you read and why?  Feel free to share your recommendations below.