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WAVELENGTH – The ID Newsletter of India – August
2005
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Hello Friends,
Welcome to this issue of Wavelength, the monthly e-Newsletter for
the Instructional Design and Content Development community of India.
July saw Wavelength start the (Instructional Design & Content
Writing Certificate (IDCWC) course and conduct its second free Instructional
Design Orientation (IDO) workshop. The IDCWC course with its unique
learning methodology was an immediate success and resulted in the
seats for the 2nd course group (beginning Aug 07, 2005,) being completely
booked, 10 days prior to the commencement of classes. The registrations
for the 3rd course group are on and the group is scheduled to begin
on Aug 28, 2005. You can click on http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idcwc_details.htm
to view the course outline and other details.
This month Wavelength focuses on Entertainment-based Learning through
its “Mystery of the Month” article. This article attempts
to explore why we alienate entertainment from learning, and explains
how an Instructional Designer can incorporate entertainment into
education, to make learning more effective without offending the
traditional educationist.
The serial “Managers of Creativity”
is now into its final episode. It ends with a wonderfully simple
and straightforward article, which I hope you will definitely find
time to read. The next serial will address “Accessibility,”
a topic that is not understood and appreciated as well as it should
be, yet is extremely important from the ID viewpoint.
I now leave you with this issue of Wavelength, and hope that as
always, you will find time not just to read it but also to send
me your invaluable views.
Have a wonderful day!
Thanks and Warm Regards,
Shafali R. Anand
(Editor & Publisher – Wavelength)
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Table of contents
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From the Editor’s Desk
Resources
Site of the Month
Mystery of the Month
Serials – Managers of Creativity
Readers’ Views
Surge Ahead
India…is a Stage!
Laugh-a-little
Signing Off…
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NEW!
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1. Wavelength’s 2nd course group for the Instructional Design
& Content Writing Certificate (IDCWC) course begins on August
07, 2005. Registrations are open for the 3rd course group starting
on August 08, 2005. Click on http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idcwc_details.htm
2. This month, Wavelength is organizing “Instructional Visualization
for eLearning” workshop on Aug 20, 2005 (Saturday.) This extremely
practical workshop is ideal for instructional designers as well
as graphic designers who have worked on at least one eLearning project.
Please read the details of this workshop at http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/visualizationWorkshop.htm
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IMPORTANT NOTE:
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If a link doesn't work upon clicking, copy and paste the complete
url (as given in the newsletter) in the address bar of your browser.
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From the Editor’s Desk
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http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/editorial.htm
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Mystery of the Month
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Entertainment and education do not mix!
If this is your ID philosophy, read the Wavelength article, “Entertainment-based
Learning” at http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/ebl.htm
and step into the utopia of learning. In this fascinating world
of Entertainment-based Learning, learning meets entertainment to
create content that learners love…
After building the conceptual framework for entertainment-based
learning with the help of this Wavelength article, I recommend that
you read the following two articles:
1. “Learning Through Laughter: New Study Supports Use of
Humor in Online Courses” at http://www.ohiou.edu/researchnews/research/humor.html
2. “Evidence that using Games-based eLearning (G-beL) can
lead to significant benefits for learners and organisations.”
at http://www.pixelearning.com/serious_games-white_papers_researching.htm
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Serials – Managers of Creativity – Final Episode
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Welcome to the third and final episode of “Managers of Creativity.”
I am sure that those who have used the knowledge gained from this
serial to manage their creative team-members, peers, or even creative
supervisors (!) must’ve noticed that the quality as well as
the output of their team-interactions have already improved. Well,
in this final episode, I present two articles that will help you
smoothen the remaining rough edges.
I couldn't have found a better article to present in this last
episode, than Mr. Mark H. McCormack's “PERSPECTIVE: Success
Secrets,” which can be read at http://www.bohol.net/1997/news005.htm.
In this short, to-the-point article, Mr. McCormack hits the nail
right at its head and drives home his four-point Creativity Management
thumb rules!
Ask the managers and they will probably say that managing creativity
is pure fantasy. Read "Managing creative people in a few easy
steps…and other fiction" at http://www.people-one.com/thehub/hrhumor/hrhumor-Managing.asp
to appreciate the true nature of this task!
I hope that the eLearning managers have found this serial useful.
Send your feedback to Wavelength, and let us know what you would
like to see featured in this section.
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Learning Resources
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Resources – Writing Style
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1. "Each" or "every"; should it be "either"
or "neither"? The course has to be uploaded in 10 minutes,
and you aren’t sure!! Fret not my friend, for here’s
an online grammar resource for crisis management. Check out
http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/toc.cfm
and add it to your favorites.
2. If you don't have a style manual handy, don't worry. Save http://www.colorado.edu/Publications/styleguide/index.html
in your favorites. It can help you in troubled times. I would like
to draw your attention specifically to http://www.colorado.edu/Publications/styleguide/inclusive.html.
It is a short and crisp reading on the six major factors that constitute
inclusive language.
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Resources – Language & Culture
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1. Almost all Indian writers are bilingual (at least bilingual.)
We become bilingual because we study English as our second language.
Some of us have faced the early-childhood trauma of being forced
to communicate in English while at school. How much has it really
helped? This article "Issues of language and culture impacting
the early care of young Latino children" at http://nccic.org/pubs/sanchez99.html
explores similar issues faced by Latino children in the US. I would
like to draw your attention to the topic, "Fallacies About
Second Language Acquisition." This topic explores the issues
that are related to forced acquisition of language skills, some
thing we've probably experienced in our own childhoods but prefer
to forget.
2. Mexican Americans have influenced the popular culture of the
US in many ways. Think of Rodeo, Macho Man, and Head Honcho; or
think of Tacos; or even of Carlos Santana. They all have something
in common. Read "Impact of Mexican Culture on America"
at http://library.thinkquest.org/C008371/
, to find more about them. If your project requires case studies,
a study of cultures can make your cases stronger and more realistic.
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Resources – ID Concepts
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1. In view of the current abundance of LMSs and the uncanny readiness
with which organizations have embraced them (reusability being the
carrot,) this article explores a new paradigm for instructional
design, "dynamic construction of instructional content based
on an independently managed presentation and delivery layer."
This paradigm exists due to the reusability feature of content.
It has to be ensured that the content is independent of the delivery
mode as well as presentation style. This seems contrary to the philosophy
of content customization to map learner's requirements, attitudes,
learning styles, and so on. Read "Another New Paradigm for
Instructional Design By Reuben Tozman" at http://www.learningcircuits.org/2004/nov2004/tozman.htm.
2. As Instructional Designers it's our duty to be aware of "Accessibility"
and what it means. Before you read "Instructional Design and
Accessibility: Cognitive Curb Cuts" a thought provoking article
by Stephanie Roberts at http://www.aect.org/Divisions/roberts.htm,
I implore you to visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blindness
to read about blindness.
"Cognitive Accessibility" is where we Instructional Designers
need to extend the realms of our design and critical thinking capabilities
to ensure that we create the accessibility layer to make our content
more effective for all our users and learners.
3.For those who are interested in taking their knowledge of accessibility
further, I recommend http://vision.unco.edu/AccessibleDesign/,
where you will find a tutorial for creating accessible websites.
Note: The next serial that begins in September will focus on accessibility.
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Site of the Month
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http://www.dabur.com
- This Indian site wears the crown of “Site of the Month”
for August.
If you've already clicked the above link, you must be seeing the
Dabur tree grow. Wait for a few seconds and the home page will load.
Here's why the Dabur site is number one this month.
1. The site has a very strong theme (Nature) running across all
its media elements. Their new logo (you can read the story behind
the logo at the site - a good read for graphic designers,) the colors
(different shades of green,) the icons; in fact everything on the
site blends with the theme.
2. This site has terrific content depth. Each button that you click
on the homepage connects you to a page with almost all relevant
information, with links to probe deeper.
3. The site makes elegant and optimum use of Flash. The Flash on
this site is interactive and allows the visitor to explore the products.
4. At the left margin, a box is devoted to displaying their brands.
The transition between the brands is achieved through a fade-out/fade-in.
This subtle animation wins your attention, yet doesn't cause irritation.
5. The homepage of this site provides complete information about
Dabur's operations and its brands, yet the site has enough white
space to prevent visual clutter.
6. I like the automatic cycling in the product range tab located
in the middle. Clicking on the tab takes you to that particular
product range's page, where you can explore each product in detail.
Simple and clean logic...isn't it?
7. The overall look and feel of the site is cool and refreshing.
The use of white in the background harmonizes so well with the oranges
and greens!
8. The rounded edges of buttons and panels blend with the organic
content of the site.
I am sure you will find your own reasons to like this site. Click
on http://www.dabur.com
to review it.
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Readers’ Views – NEW!
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Click on http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/views.htm
to read what readers feel about Wavelength.
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Surge Ahead
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“I read the previous issue of Wavelength at 1:00 AM.”
“Why?”
“Well I was taking a short break from work, and I thought
I could make good use of my spare time by reading Wavelength. Why?”
“Do you work in a call-center?”
“No, I work in an eLearning company, why?”
…
This is why.
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Bangalore:
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Mentorware
Head – Instructional Design (8 years with at least 4 years
in eLearning)
Instructional Designers (2-4 years)
Project Manager - Elearning (6-7 years)
http://www.mentorware.com/careers/careers_india_sub.html
Wipro
Instructional Designer & Graphic Designer (Qualifications/Experience:
BE / BTech 4 - 6 years -Makes me wonder!!!)
http://volts.wipro.com/NASApp/com/JobsSearch.jsp
Use code T16086 and click on "Apply Now" Button.
SourceEdge Software Technologies Pvt Ltd.
Content Developer (More than 3 years)/Instructional Designer (More
than 5 years)
http://www.sourceedge.com/html/careers_openings.htm
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Delhi - NCR:
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Newgen Software Technologies Ltd.
Instructional Designer (Experience: 1 year or more.)
http://www.newgensoft.com/2005/careers/resume_submission.htm
Infopro
Instructional Designers (Experience: 1-3 years)
http://learning.infoprocorp.com/careers/careers.html
NIIT Ltd.
(Also at Mumbai)
Instructional Designers (Excellent English with >= 2 years)
Senior Project Managers (8 years experience at least -- with 4-5
in the elearning industry)
http://www.niit.com/Admin/ASP/Aboutus.asp?Section=Global&
L1=Employment&L2=Current%20Positions
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Chennai:
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Element K
(Provider of courseware and e-learning solutions for technology
and business skills serving Fortune 1000 companies, schools and
universities, government organizations and individuals)
Content Developer (Maximum Experience: 5 years)
http://corp.naukri.com/mynaukri/mn_newsmartsearch.php?searchtype=bpwjobs_page&
phrase=ELEMENTNAUK&tem=element&search=Search
(Note: The requirement is extremely detailed...I am not sure how
this will be perceived in India, yet the professionalism is encouraging.)
Lionbridge/Mentorix
Delivery Head (10 –15 years experience.)
http://www.lionbridge.com/company/careers/empdisplay.asp?intJobID=278&intLangID=1
(Apply to ashok.bhaskaran@lionbrdige.com)
SifyCorp/Sify eLearning
Content Writers / Instructional Designers (eLearning Services,
Chennai)
http://www.sifycorp.com/scripts/workcontent.asp?id=23&title=Current%20Openings
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Mumbai:
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Lionbridge/Mentorix
Technical Writers (Graduates)
http://www.lionbridge.com/company/careers/empdisplay.asp?intJobID=283&intLangID=1
Instructional Designers (Graduates/Postgraduates)
http://www.lionbridge.com/company/careers/empdisplay.asp?intJobID=281&intLangID=1
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India...is a Stage!
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Visit http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/jobs/0310/2003101500361000.htm
to read about the growing eLearning industry and the opportunities
it offers. This simple article “eLearning to Wisdom”
can answer some preliminary queries that the newcomers to this industry
have.
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Laugh-a-little
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Attended any interview recently? No? Doesn’t matter…here’s
a refresher.
1. "You have three years of Instructional Design work experience...hmm!
So...tell me something about yourself."
"You are a fresh graduate...hmm! So...tell me something about
yourself."
Unbelievable, believe it! (How unoriginal!) Most interviews start
in exactly the same way, with almost the same words, and nearly
the same expression! Hmm...you got it!
But then, we know, that an experienced ID is very different from
an inexperienced one, just like an experienced nurse is different
from the inexperienced one, and if you love your life, you'd be
better off with an inexperienced one...or would you? Check out http://www.nursinghumor.com/bedside.nursing.humor/graduate.nurses.vs.experienced.nurses.htm
to find out! If you compare nurses to IDs, do it at your own peril!
2. If you would like to work on a different project but your PM
doesn't want you to leave, here's a sure-fire way to ensure that
you are not only "freed" but also recommended to another
project, which in all probability is being managed by your current
PM's bete noire. Send the link http://consc.net/misc/moser.html
for this self-referential story to your PM, and add the note that
the best part of the story is its end!
3. This last link is dedicated to all science graduates, engineers,
science teachers, course developers who have worked on science projects,
and all others who have been associated with science at some point
in their lives...in other words, to almost all instructional designers.
Click on http://quark.physics.uwo.ca/~harwood/humor12.htm
to join "A Party of Famous Physicists."
Keep laughing!
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Signing Off...
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Thanks for being with Wavelength. Before we say goodbye, let’s
promise to meet again.
Wavelength shall be back next month, with more information, news,
humor, and enthusiasm.
See you then!
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Feedback: Send your views on Wavelength at http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/fsg/formfeedback.htm.
Suggest Links or site for “Site of the Month”: Publish
an article in Wavelength or suggest links– Check out http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/contribute.htm.
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