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, 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.^[8] In May 2011 the American Society for Training & Development presented him a distinguished contribution award.^[5]

Allen was a 2012 Ellis Island Medal of Honor Recipient by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations.^[9]

• Michael Allen's Guide to e-Learning. Wiley. 2002. ISBN 978-0-471-20302-5.
• Creating Successful E-Learning : A Rapid System For Getting It Right First Time, Every Time. Pfeiffer. 2006. 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. 2007. ISBN 978-0-7879-8299-7.
• Successful e-Learning Interface: Making Learning Technology Polite, Effective, and Fun. Pfeiffer. 2011. ISBN 978-0-7879-8297-3.
• Michael Allen's 2008 e-Learning Annual. Pfeiffer. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7879-8743-5.
• Michael Allen's 2009 e-Learning Annual. Pfeiffer. 2009. ISBN 978-0-470-37145-9.
• Michael Allen's 2012 e-Learning Annual. Pfeiffer. 2011. ISBN 978-0-470-91382-6.
• Leaving ADDIE for SAM: An Agile Model for Developing the Best Learning Experiences. ASTD Press. 2012. ISBN 978-1-56286-711-9.

• "Year of Upheaval and Innovation: 1968". Ohio State University Inspire Podcast. October 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
• Ryann Ellis (July 2004). "Down with Boring E-Learning! Interview with e-learning guru Dr. Michael W. Allen". Learning Circuits blog. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
• "ZebraZapps". web site. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
• "Allen Interactions". web site. Retrieved December 6, 2013.