Michael W. Allen
Encyclopedia
Michael W. Allen 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.
, and MA and Ph.D. from the Ohio State University
in educational psychology.
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
.
Allen formed a spinoff of the professional services division of Authorware called MediaPros, which was acquired by Lifetouch, Inc. a year later.
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.
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, 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
software developer, educator, and author.
He is known for pioneering work on e-learning
E-learning
E-learning comprises all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. The information and communication systems, whether networked learning or not, serve as specific media to implement the learning process...
, and led the development of the Authorware software.
Biography
Allen received a BA in psychology from Cornell CollegeCornell College
Cornell College is a private liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Originally called the Iowa Conference Seminary, the school was founded in 1853 by Reverend Samuel M. Fellows...
, and MA and Ph.D. from the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
in educational psychology.
From 1971 to 1984 Allen worked for Control Data Corporation
Control Data Corporation
Control Data Corporation was a supercomputer firm. For most of the 1960s, it built the fastest computers in the world by far, only losing that crown in the 1970s after Seymour Cray left the company to found Cray Research, Inc....
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
MacroMind
MacroMind was an Apple Macintosh software company founded in Chicago in 1984 by Marc Canter, Jay Fenton and Mark Stephen Pierce. The company's first product was SoundVision, a combined music and graphics editor. Before the release, the graphics editor was removed, and SoundVision became MusicWorks...
-Paracomp
Paracomp
Paracomp was a Macintosh programming company known for their 3D software, Swivel 3D and ModelShop and Filmaker. Filmaker was known for its packaging which was a 16mm film reel tin which was used to contain the software and manuals. It was acquired by MacroMind in 1990 to briefly form...
in 1992 to form Macromedia
Macromedia
Macromedia was an American graphics and web development software company headquartered in San Francisco, California that produced such products as Flash and Dreamweaver. Its rival, Adobe Systems, acquired Macromedia on December 3, 2005 and controls the line of Macromedia...
, which was later bought by Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
.
Allen formed a spinoff of the professional services division of Authorware called MediaPros, which was acquired by Lifetouch, Inc. a year later.
He founded Allen Interactions, Inc. in 1993, acting as chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
. 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
University of Minnesota School of Public Health
The University of Minnesota School of Public Health, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a professional school of the University of Minnesota. The school offers a 15 masters programs and four doctoral programs, which culminate in one of the following degrees: Master of Public Health , Master of...
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
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
.
Allen is the author of several books, 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.