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WAVELENGTH – The ID Newsletter of India – August 2006
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Hello Friends,

Welcome to this issue of Wavelength.

With Monsoons in and well-settled; with little green
shoots poking their heads out to sniff the fresh, clean
air; we too are ready for new challenges that life may
throw at us. The spirit of freedom and the need to
increase the meaning of each day in our life, defines the
feeling that we experience when we hear the raindrops
patter on the windowsills or the terraces. The feeling of
freedom is what we all aim at.

This isn't the medieval world where serfdoms and kingdoms,
small and big fought over pieces of land; in the world of
today; freedom is no longer the ability to till your land
and keep its produce - today, especially in our industry,
freedom is the ability to expand your mind space through
knowledge, create knowledge products, provide them to the
entity of your choice, for a consideration that is fair.
IT, eLearning, and training industries are primarily
knowledge driven. It is our ability for which organizations
pay us.

What then is the reason behind the young adult learner's will
to go through months and sometimes years of wasted energy and
opportunity, to gain a piece of paper that will certify
possession of an ability that was never instilled in him or
her! The Mystery of the Month article for August,
"The Motivator - A Misinformed Framework" attempts to find
some answers to this question.

The Site of the Month for August is the release 5 of the
2Advanced site. Creatively as well as "effect"ively, it
is too advanced. I mean it. Whether you are an instructional
designer, a graphic designer, a programmer, a project
manager, a trainer, or a CEO; whoever you are, you have a
right to be inspired! Do remember to check it out! It may
help you raise the bar for design quality for yourself or
for your team - as the case may be.

Let me now give you a brief overview of what the Wavelength
team is busy with:

1.Implementation of the IDCWC Online: The four groups
currently online with this course are doing excellent
work! The dedication, the enthusiasm, and the thinking
that the participants have evinced are par-excellence!

2.The next session of IDCWC Online begins on October 01,2006.
We have started receiving applications for this session.

3.Design & Development of our next course. The launch is
planned for early next year.

4.The next course group of ActionScript Developer Certificate
(ASDC) course is starting classes on August 13, 2006.

5.The next course group of Instructional Design & Content
Writing Certificate (IDCWC) (Contact) course is beginning
classes on September 03, 2006.

6.We are holding a FREE Instructional Design Orientation
workshop on August 20, 2006.

Check the calendar for the complete schedule.

I would also like to tell you that Wavelength subscriptions
have touched 1500 this month. Thanks for your continued
support and encouragement. Also many thanks for writing to
us and telling us that you like the Wavelength site and the
newsletter. We appreciate your feelings, we appreciate that
you feel a bond with Wavelength, Wavelength reflects
the sentiments.

Thanks and Warm Regards,
Shafali R. Anand

(Editor & Publisher, Wavelength)

******************
Table of contents
******************

From the Editor's Desk
Mystery of the Month
ID Section
Technology Section
Media Section
Site of the Month
Views
Surge Ahead
Laugh-a-little
Innoken Games
Signing Off...

***********************
Calendar
***********************
1.The next session of IDCWC Online begins on October 01, 2006.
We have started receiving applications for the course.
*Read details of the course at: http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idcwc_online.htm
*View FAQs at: http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idcwconline_faqs.htm
*Experience sample learning interactions at: http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idcwconline_preview.htm
*Write to idcwconline@vibrantwavelength.com with your queries.

2.Wavelength's next course group for the Instructional Design
& Content Writing Certificate (IDCWC Contact) course begins on
September 03, 2006. Registrations are on for this group.
Read details at http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idcwc_details.htm

3.Classes for the next Flash ActionScript Developer Certificate
ASDC) course group begin on August 13, 2006. Registrations on for
this group. Read details at http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/actionscript_certificate.htm

4.Attend the 8th FREE Instructional Design Orientation workshop
IDO-8) on August 20, 2006. Click http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idorworkshop8.htm
to read about the workshop and register.

6.Play Innoken online games - developed in India, played worldwide.
http://www.innoken.com/games.htm

***********************
From the Editor's Desk
***********************

http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/editorial.htm

***********************
Mystery of the Month
***********************
The "Mystery of the Month" article for August 06,
questions the reasons that a young adult Indian Learner
finds to enroll for courses that do not build the
capability that they promise. This discussion helps us
reflect upon the reasons why so many young people, with
number certifications and degrees under their belts, are
unable to find jobs. The prevailing education system
definitely receives some blame; but then the existence of
the system or its viability is ensured by the limited
freedom of choice that our society provides to youngsters.

Read the Wavelength article,
"The Motivator - A Misinformed Framework" at:
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/framework.htm for some
food for thought. Breaking the vicious circles of
expensive incapability is essential for not only the
industry, but also for our society. I feel that if this
article generates short debates in small circles of
instructional designers, it would solve its purpose. My
respect for the logical thought process of an instructional
designer's mind makes me believe this.

**********
ID Section
**********

-------------------
ID Concepts
--------------------

1.http://www.osufst.org/Resources/inst_toolbox/Learner%20Motivation.pdf
is a short but excellent article on learner motivation.
This article, brings out the essence of keeping the
learner motivation, by stating - "Motivation is the first,
middle, and last steps of the learning process." This
article also provides a simple checklist for trainers,
which can help them ensure that the learner stays motivated
through out the program.

2.Behaviorism, which was the dominant approach to learning
until the mid-nineteenth century, perplexes many of us.
Read about the three types of behaviorism (methodological,
psychological, and analytical; of which, the third will
sound new to most of us,) at http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/behaviorism/
What I found most interesting in this link is Skinner's
Social Worldview, in his characterization of the
Walden II society.

------------------------------
Language & Culture
------------------------------

Culture in Focus: Chinese
=========================
This month, let us focus on the Chinese culture. Visit
http://www.wku.edu/~yuanh/China/culture.html to find about
this culture. This visually pleasing page provides links to
Chinese legends, tales, proverbs, Zodiac, and also Chinese
etiquettes and protocols.

A page linked through the above site, displays I think
this particular page will engage the interest of the
graphic designers as well.

Another link, http://www.protocolprofessionals.com/articles_china_print.htm
provides you information on the relationships and the value
that Chinese people place on relationships. This link
provides us useful insights into how business is carried
out in the Chinese community. This link also helps explore
the taboos, the gifts, and the greeting that one should
consider while meeting the Chinese.

------------------------
Writing Style
-----------------------
http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/ gives you
an opportunity to review your language and make it better.
This excellent and extremely relevant grammar help is a
fantastic place to find little rules that fit nicely into
the microscopic time pockets we find in our packed
schedules. If you don't have it in your favorites
already, please add it now.

*******************************
Technology Section
*******************************

------------------------------------------------------
Learning Content Creation Technologies
------------------------------------------------------
1.Freelance instructional designers could benefit a lot
from the site http://www.newfreedownloads.com/find/screenshot.html
Here you will find links to many free screenshot programs.
You can review each program and select the one that
fulfills your requirements.

2.Read more about Breeze and what it helps accomplish in
Rapid eLearning (also review the graph provided for three kinds
of eContent) at http://www.adobe.com/resources/elearning/presentations/v1/#slide=9
The presentation looks fine, but I would still prefer a more
organic experience! I do like the interactivity in
the presentation.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Learning Content Management Technologies
--------------------------------------------------------------
1.Accessibility is fast becoming a necessary feature of
the courses that are developed for the western market. If
you have some time to spare, go through the accessibility
guidelines provided at http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/full-checklist
It will provide you a preliminary orientation towards their
intent and developmental implications.

2.If you see the mention of section 508 popping up at
various eLearning sites, intra-office conversations, and
official circulars, and you wish to resolve the mystery
of 508, once and for all - click http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=3
to find out what the law states, straight from the
lawmaker's mouth (well, the lawmaker's site!)

******************
Media Section
******************
My favorite links among those listed here are those listed
in the Art Concepts section. Monet's art teaches us a lot
more than art...it teaches us about life.

-----------------------------------
Art Concepts:
-----------------------------------

The Masters - Vincent Van Gogh
==================================
Among the great artists of the past century, the name that
made a strong mark though after his death, is Vincent Van Gogh.
He died in poverty, having sold but one painting in his
entire lifetime. The treatment that life metes out to artists
is painfully ironical! Emotions aside - the biography of
Vincent Van Gogh is available at: http://www.vangoghgallery.com/misc/bio.htm

You can view his paintings at http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/
where you will find the "Before & After" link. This link
leads to an interesting study of the change in Van Gogh's
style before and after being influenced by Impressionism.

While you are at this site, don't forget to read the analysis
of the three Starry Night paintings by Gogh.

-----------------------------------
Graphic Design Concepts:
-----------------------------------
Basic rules of graphic design, by Cheryl Stephan provide
a good insight into text formatting. Click http://cherylstephens.com/professional/communication/Design.pdf
to download the pdf of this article.

-----------------------------------
Media Technology Concepts:
-----------------------------------
This month, the focus of this section is on the 3d
designers. the fare for you comes from http://www.cuneytozdas.com/software/3dsmax/
where Cuneyt Ozdas makes some free 3ds max plugins
available for you to download. I like the effect of
QuickDirt, which is a weathering/aging tool (I guess I
am aging fast!) There are many other downloadable plugins
for the 3D enthusiasts.

----------------------
Photoshop Pros:
----------------------
Photoshop enthusiast will find the information at
http://www.storyphoto.com/multimedia/multimedia_photoshop.html
exciting. It is the story about the birth and growth of
Photoshop, from the days that John and Thomas Knoll spent
in their father's darkroom to the days when 200 copies of
the now Photoshop was, for the first time shipped along
with BarneyScan's scanners.

---------------
Flash Fans:
---------------
Flash fans too would like to sneak a peek into the history
of Flash. Why not? Jonathan Gay began experimenting with
what later became FutureSplash and then Flash, around the
same time when John and Thomas Knoll began working on what
we know as Photoshop today. Click http://www.flashmagazine.com/413.htm
to read this inspiring story.

The above article uses some information from the four-page
story by Jonathan Gay himself. This story is available at:
http://www.adobe.com/macromedia/events/john_gay/

The curious part of this story is that in 1996, Jonathan Gay
approached Adobe with the product and Adobe declined - Recently,
Adobe bought Macromedia, the company that took Flash to the
height it is at today! If any of you have faced a rebuttal
or refusal, remember this - recognition from another is not
necessary for a capability to exist and survive; it is
recognition from within, which ensures the survival of a
capability.

------------
3D Dons:
------------
Click the following links for inspiration:
http://www.3dlinks.com/gallery_fullview.cfm?id=5501
(The execution of lights is fantastic!)

Some others:
http://www.3dexport.com/files/competition/cggirls/Elene.jpg
(3DS Max 5.1)

http://www.3dexport.com/files/competition/cggirls/Sentimental_look.jpg
3DS Max 5.1)

******************
Site of the Month
******************
The Site of the Month for August 2006, is 2Advanced! Those
of you, who have missed the fourth version of the
2Advanced site, can now wonder at the magic that
2A Version 5 weaves. It could be called their masterpiece.
The best of the best! If you haven't seen their work yet,
prepare yourself for a terrific experience! Click
http://www.2advanced.com/ sit back, and let the show begin.
It is an interactive show, so don't leave the mouse.

Though There could be more reasons behind the "attraction"
of this site, than about a hundred that I can think of...it
would be better if I vanished and let you find your own!

On second thoughts...let me tell you a few! ARCS holds all
the time, and a true instructional designer cannot shy
away from the theories and models!

Here are my reasons for choosing this site as the
Site of the Month:

1. The loading is superbly executed. The sound effect that
plays in the background supplements the image and the
animation completely.

2. When the loading is complete, the image loads. The
image has a surrealistic quality; one moment it seems to
belong to this world, the next moment it doesn't! The
slim bar at the top has the menu hidden within, which it
reveals only when you move your mouse over the bar.

3. The smooth motion (attained by the accelerated increase
in alpha and the appearance of links one after the other)
complements the overall effect of efficiency.

4. Now choose the first option Company > About Us. The
new frame loads with a new image, and two new panels. It
is the second panel (the one at the right) that I would
draw your attention to. When the panel loads the leaves
grow out of the panel.

5. If you look at the content of all the five links in
the top menu, you will see that the background image
changes, and along with the background image, the theme
of the panels too change.

6. Everything in the site, including the button rollovers,
the panels, the sliders, the bullets, even the logo,
seems to be alive. Everything responds to your touch.

7. In effect, you step into a magical world!

I will not tax your patience any further. I know your
fingers are itching to click http://www.2advanced.com/ and
that I should end this list. Enjoy the experience!

**********
Views
**********

1. Reader's Views:
-------------------------
Click on http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/views.htm to read
what readers feel about Wavelength.

2. ActionScript Course Students Views:
-----------------------------------------------------
Click on http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/wavelengthians.htm#asdcstudentviews
to read what ours students feel about the ActionScript
course (ASDC) and Wavelength.

3. Instructional Design Course Students Views:
---------------------------------------------------------------
Click on http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/wavelengthians.htm#idcwcstudentviews
to read what ours students feel about the Instructional Design
course (IDCWC) and Wavelength.

************
Surge Ahead
************
The following conversation took place across the cubicle
divider of an eLearning organization... one beautiful,
rainy afternoon!

What's that you've brought to office?

My baggage.

Baggage...why? Are you going on a vacation?

Kind of!

What does that mean?

I like to think that I've applied to ten different organizations
in five different cities.

So? You haven't resigned yet...have you?

I don't intend to leave...I just like to keep them guessing!!

How about some concrete action? Here are some cool leads.

In focus this month, we have the following jobs:

=============================
Instructional Design Jobs:
=============================
--------------
Mumbai
--------------

TATA INTERACTIVE::Project Manager (Exp: 2 to 5 years)
http://www.tatainteractive.com/careers/list.jsp

CACTUS COMMUNICATIONS::Instructional Designer (Trg)
(Exp: 1 to 5 years)
http://www.cactusglobal.com/Default.aspx?tabid=886

PRAXIS TECHNOLOGIES::Project Managers/Leaders(Content)
Exp 1 to 5 years
Team Leader(Writing and Instructional Design)
Exp 4 to 6 years
Instructional Designer (Exp 2 to 3 years)
Instructional Writers (Exp 1 to 2 years)
http://www.praxistechnologies.net/careers/careers.html

HURIX::
Project Managers (Exp: Min 1 yr in Project Mgt.)
Lead Instructional Designers (Exp:3 to 4 years)
Instructional Designers (Exp: Min 2 years)
Technical Writers/Instructional Writers (Exp:1 to 2 years)
Designation: Elearning Consultants (MBA IDs):(Exp:Fresher)
http://www.hurix.com/current_openings.html

(Openings at both Mumbai and Chennai)

-------
PUNE
-------
KNOWLEDGE HORIZON::
Manager (Instructional Design) (Exp: 7 to 10 yrs)
Sr. Instructional Designer (Exp: 5 to 7 yrs)
Instructional Designer (Exp: 2 to 4 yrs)
http://www.knowledgehorizon.com/careers/main.aspx

BRAINVISA:: Project Manager (3 to 7 yrs pune)
http://www.brainvisa.com/opening3.html

BRAINVISA::Content developer / Content writer
(Exp 1 to 3 years, also at NOIDA)
http://www.brainvisa.com/opening4.html

BRAINVISA::Instructional Design Project Lead
(2 to 8 years, also at NOIDA)
http://www.brainvisa.com/opening5.html

-----------
DELHI NCR
-----------

INFOPRO:: Instructional Designers (Exp: 1 to 3years)
http://learning.infoprocorp.com/careers/careers.html

===============================
Flash ActionScript Jobs
===============================
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DUBAI
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KNOWLEDGE HORIZON::Flash Developer
(Exp: Not mentioned)
http://www.knowledgehorizon.com/careers/main.aspx

--------------
Kolkata
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INFOSOFTGLOBAL:: Flash ActionScript Developers
(Exp: 2 to 3 years)
http://www.infosoftglobal.com/Careers.asp

--------------
Hyderabad
--------------

WIPRO:: ActionScript Programmer (Exp: 0 to 1 years)
http://volts.wipro.com/NASApp/com/SearchJobs.jsp
(enter job code as 30337 )

--------------
Mumbai
--------------

PRAXIS TECHNOLOGIES:: Flash Developersr
(Exp: 1 to 2 years)
http://www.praxistechnologies.net/careers/careers.html

===============================
Media Jobs:
===============================

--------------
DUBAI
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KNOWLEDGE HORIZON::Multimedia Developer
(Exp: Not mentioned)
http://www.knowledgehorizon.com/careers/main.aspx

--------------
Kolkata
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INFOSOFTGLOBAL:: Flash and Graphic Designer
(Exp: 2 to 3 years)
http://www.infosoftglobal.com/Careers.asp

--------------
Mumbai
--------------
GURUKULONLINE:: Flash Designer (Exp:1 to 4 yrs)
http://www.gurukulonline.co.in/displayalljobdetails.jsp?srno=16

PRAXIS TECHNOLOGIES:: Graphic Designer
(Exp: 1 to 3 years experience in designing UI)
Team Leader (Graphics) (Exp: 4 to 6 years)
Graphic Visualizer (Exp 2 to 4 years)
http://www.praxistechnologies.net/careers/careers.html

***************
Laugh-a-little
***************
Of all the serious types, programmers are the only ones
who appreciate humor. I am being honest. Instructional
Designers profess to use humor in their work, "humor could
be used as a tool to gain learner's attention" they say, yet,
when it comes to jokes about instructional designers, you
can hardly find any. How can we use humor if we don't make
it a part of our lives?

This question merits some thought, which we shall give to it;
yet, in the meantime, click the following links to join the
programmers for a few laughs.

http://www.absolutelyjokes.com/profession/programmer/programmer's-error.html
http://www.absolutelyjokes.com/technology/computers-and-software/dear-boss.html
and... http://www.ariel.com.au/jokes/The_Evolution_of_a_Programmer.html

Here are a few interesting rules that will remind us that
language errors make the world a more lively and humorous
place to live in. Click http://www.fortunecity.com/campus/books/845/1lang.htm
to become a crusader for errors.

****************************
Innoken Online Games
****************************
Recently we have been seeing a growth as well as change
in the visitors to Innoken site. India is playing
Innoken games; the winners (in the hall of fame) are
Indians; and honestly, the Innoken team is very
flattered. They send their thanks to all those who play
Innoken games.

If you haven't been to Innoken, click
http://www.innoken.com/games.htm to play a game of your
choice. The games are free to play.

**************
Signing Off...
**************
I hope you enjoyed this issue of Wavelength.

I look forward to meeting you again, next
month - with more with more information, news, humor,
and enthusiasm...right there, in your mailbox!

See you next month! Bye!

Shafali

Shafali R. Anand
Editor & Publisher, Wavelength the ID Newsletter
Director, Wavelength eLearning Consulting & Training
shafali@vibrantwavelength[dot]com
Wavelength, Link House, 2nd Floor,
C-4, Sector 10, Noida-201301, India.
Ph: 9810324284 / 9810412297 / 0120-4315505
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com

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Feedback: Write to me with your views on Wavelength at shafali@vibrantwavelength[dot]com with "Wavelength Feedback" written in the subject.

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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