Michael W. Allen

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

## Education

Allen received a B.A. in psychology from Cornell College. He received a M.A. and Ph.D. in educational psychology from Ohio State University.

## Career

From 1971 to 1984 Allen worked for Control Data Corporation (CDC) on its computer-based education system called PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations). He became the director of R&D of advanced educational systems R&D and worked on developing a visual version of PLATO. When CDC expressed little interest in the project, Allen was permitted to to make a bid for the technology.

### Authorware and Macromedia

He then founded the Authorware company in 1984, which was incorporated the following year. Authorware captured 80% of the web learning market in about 3 years; 30% of the company's revenue came from professional consulting services. Authorware merged with MacroMind-Paracomp in 1992 to form Macromedia, which was later acquired by Adobe Systems.

### After Macromedia

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

Allen founded Allen Interactions in 1993, acting as chairman and CEO. The company designs custom interactive e-learning applications and provides consulting and training services. 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.

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.
He consulted on a study that used e-learning to reduce the spread of HIV.

Allen is the author of several books, most notable being Michael Allen's Guide to e-Learning, and is editor of Michael Allen’s e-Learning Annual, first published in February 2008.
In May 2011 the American Society for Training & Development presented him a distinguished contribution award.

Allen was a 2012 Ellis Island Medal of Honor Recipient by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations.

## Bibliography

* "Michael Allen's Guide to e-Learning", Wiley. ISBN: 978-0-471-20302-5.

* "Creating Successful E-Learning : A Rapid System For Getting It Right First Time, Every Time", Pfeiffer. ISBN: 978-0-7879-8300-0.

* "Designing Successful e-Learning, Michael Allen's Online Learning Library: Forget What You Know About Instructional Design and Do Something Interesting", Pfeiffer. ISBN: 978-0-7879-8299-7.

* "Successful e-Learning Interface: Making Learning Technology Polite, Effective, and Fun", Pfeiffer. ISBN: 978-0-7879-8297-3.

* "Michael Allen's 2008 e-Learning Annual", Pfeiffer. ISBN: 978-0-7879-8743-5.

* "Michael Allen's 2009 e-Learning Annual", Pfeiffer. ISBN: 978-0-470-37145-9.

* "Michael Allen's 2012 e-Learning Annual", Pfeiffer. ISBN: 978-0-470-91382-6.

* "Leaving ADDIE for SAM: An Agile Model for Developing the Best Learning Experiences", ASTD Press. ISBN: 978-1-56286-711-9.

## References

1. ↑ Leadership Team. *Allen Interactions*. Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved on July 4, 2011.
2. ↑ An Overview of Authorware 7 — and Its Evolution by Joseph Ganci, *The eLearning Developer's Journal*, p.4-5. 2003-09-22.
3. ↑ Definition of: Macromedia, *PC Magazine*. Accessed 2019-11-03.
4. ↑ Authorware Fulfills Multimedia's Promise With Product and Direction by Ruthann Quindlen, *InfoWorld*, p.98. 1990-05-07.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Our e-Learning Team. Allen Interactions Inc.. Archived from the original on September 4, 2011. Retrieved on July 4, 2011.
6. ↑ "Learning Executive, Michael Allen, is Recognized by the American Society for Training & Development", *News release*, June 3, 2011. Retrieved on July 4, 2011.
7. ↑ Allen Learning Technologies. *Portfolio Companies*. Gramercy Private Equity. Retrieved on July 4, 2011.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "ASTD Presents Michael Allen with its Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning and Performance Award", May 24, 2011. Retrieved on July 4, 2011.
9. ↑ B.R. Simon Rosser. "Reducing HIV risk behavior of men who have sex with men through persuasive computing: results of the Men’s INTernet Study-II", Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, August 24, 2010, pp. 2099–2107. Retrieved on July 4, 2011.
10. ↑ Faculty & Staff. *HIV/STI Intervention & Prevention Studies web site*. University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved on July 4, 2011.
11. ↑ "Michael Allen's 2008 E-Learning Annual", John Wiley and Sons. ISBN: 978-0-7879-8743-5.
12. ↑ 2012 Ellis Island Medal of Honor Recipients. NECO. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved on April 28, 2012.

## External links

* Allen Interactions official site
* About Our Company at ZebraZapps
* Michael W. Allen at Wikipedia

### Articles

* Ryann Ellis. "Down with Boring E-Learning! Interview with e-learning guru Dr. Michael W. Allen", *Learning Circuits blog*, July 2004. Retrieved on July 4, 2011.