****************************************************
WAVELENGTH – The ID Newsletter of India – June 2006
****************************************************

---------------------------------------------------------
PREVIEW :: IDCWC Online Learning Interactions

(http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idcwconline_preview.htm)
---------------------------------------------------------

Hello Friends,

Welcome to this issue of Wavelength.

The weather is hot! The recent showers had cooled Delhi
down a bit, but in the last couple of days, the temperature
has risen with a vengeance. This rise in temperature
sometimes heats up our temperaments too. Work
becomes a burden, colleagues become irritants, and we
become overly pessimistic. If you too are feeling the
impact of the summer heat, Wavelength brings you something
that will help you bounce back to your normal friendly,
optimistic, and enthusiastic self.

This month Wavelength brings to you a collection of five
learning interactions to preview from the IDCWC Online course
(http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idcwconline_preview.htm.)
I expect each of these learning interactions to touch your
heart, for they represent the quality and the instructional
capability that each of us possesses. There are many
instructional designers who are capable of this and much
more, but who are too busy completing their day-to-day
tasks, to stop and look within. We endeavor to bring an
instructionally effective, visually appealing, and
functionally captivating instructional design course within
the reach of every instructional designer within and
outside India.

The mystery of the month article for June,
"The Magic of Online Learning," tries to elucidate the
challenges and advantages of online learning. It also
discusses one of the sample learning interactions from
"IDCWC Online Learning Interactions :: A Preview"
available at http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idcwconline_preview.htm,
in light of the instructional concepts built into it.

With the June edition we take the serial,
"Managing the Ephemeral Time" further. I am confident that
this serial will impact the lives of some of us
positively. Think of this - If you manage to save
30 minutes of your time each day and spend it on
"quality experiences", in a year you would have profited to
the tune of 182.5 hours or 7.6 days. Over the period of
next 40 years, your quality time balance would be 304 days
or almost 1 year! How about it?

If you are planning to take a course from Wavelength, let
me give you an overview of the schedule. The IDCWC Online
shall begin classes on July 01, 2006. The next course
groups for IDCWC (Contact), ASDC, and AS2OOP shall begin
on June 18, 2006. For the next EPCEC course group classes
shall begin on July 01, 2006. The calendar given below
will provide links to the details page for each of
these courses.

I wish you all, all the best for everything in life. Keep
smiling, working, creating, adding value to this world;
and keep your health too:)

Thanks and Warm Regards,
Shafali R. Anand

(Editor & Publisher, Wavelength)

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

From the Editor's Desk
Mystery of the Month
Serials: Managing the Ephemeral Time: Episode II
ID Section
Technology Section
Media Section
Site of the Month
Views
Surge Ahead
Laugh-a-little
Innoken Games
Signing Off...

-------------------------------------------
EVENTS CALENDAR for June 2006:
-------------------------------------------
1.The IDCWC Online begins on July 01, 2006. Last Date for
Receipt of Applications: June 15, 2006. Last Date for
Receipt of Registration Fee: June 20, 2006.
*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

2.Wavelength's next course group for the Instructional
Design & Content Writing Certificate (IDCWC) course begins
on June 18, 2005. 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 February 12,
2006. Registrations on for this group. Read details at
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/actionscript_certificate.htm

4.Classes for the ActionScript 2.0 using Object-Oriented
Programming (AS2OOP) course begin on June 18, 2006.
Registrations are now open for this course group. Click on
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/actionscript2_oop_details.htm

5.The Effective Professional Communication in English
Certificate (EPCEC) course begins on July 01, 2006.
Read details at: http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/english_communication_certificate.htm.

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
***********************
This month, we shall spend some time experiencing the
magic of online learning. Click
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/online_learning_magic.htm
to read a short Wavelength article
"The Magic of Online Learning", which explains the
challenges that the online course designers face and the
advantages that this medium offers to the learners. I have a
great deal of faith in this excellent medium and I
feel that an online course can be even better than
a classroom session, provided it has been designed
in an instructionally effective manner.

A link that I would like to share here is
http://www.aiuonline.edu/highschool/online_ed_advantage.asp.
This link outlines the advantages of online learning
for the students.

****************************************************
Serials: Managing the Ephemeral Time: Episode II
****************************************************
Welcome to the second episode of this serial. Though this
serial is more generic than the usual Wavelength fare
(that pertains to ID and eLearning,) yet it concerns an
issue that impacts instructional designers and eLearning
professionals very forcefully. We often find ourselves
spending time on activities that we do not enjoy at all,
and then stretching the remaining time to do things
that we love!

"HELPFUL HINTS FOR MANAGING TIME BETTER" at
http://www.selfhelpsolutions.homestead.com/time1.html is
a simple article written by Thomas D. Yarnell, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist. This article underlines the concept
that Mr. Mukul Saxena presented in his article
"Time Management" published in the May edition of
Wavelength. "We waste time when we spend it doing
something less important than something else we could be
doing." - Thomas D. Yarnell. Dr. Yarnell provides some
guidelines that could help us manage time. The one that
I have already implemented is, "maintain a separate list
of activities that can be done in less than 10 minutes."
I am sure you will find this article extremely useful.

"Time Management" at http://www.accd.edu/sac/history/keller/ACCDitg/SSTM.htm
is another article that reviews the time management
problem by shifting the perspective to talk about "not"
managing time, but managing "ourselves" in relation to
time. If you feel that the main factor that deters you
from managing time effectively is procrastination, I
request you to also check out "Procrastination" at
http://www.accd.edu/sac/history/keller/ACCDitg/SSPC.htm.

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

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

1.If you've been given the task to create a syllabus on
the basis of a sketchy content outline, a rough audience
profile, and virtually no SME support, you will find a
friend in "Syllabus Design" at
http://www.edtech.neu.edu/workshops/materials/course/materials/syllabus/.

------------------------------
Language & Culture
------------------------------
This month, this section is India-bound.

1."A Tribute to Hinduism" at
http://www.atributetohinduism.com/Education_in_Ancient_India.htm
is a consolidation of information about education in
ancient India. The site mentions that the university
system of education (as it exists today,) existed in India
in 800 BC or even earlier. This site contains a lot of
information as well as direction for those who would like
to trace our educational past.

2."Why Science Declined In Ancient India?" an article by
Dr. K. Jamanadas at http://www.ambedkar.org/research/
Why_Science_Declined_In_Ancient_India.htm
illustrates with examples that ancient Indians were
well-versed with mining, material science, math, medical
science and so on.

-----------------------
Writing Style
-----------------------

1.The subjectivity that envelops writing style leads
to a lot of pain when the reviews come in. The article,
"Style" at http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/style.html
provides some simple pointers to help us write better English.

2."How to write with style" at
http://www.harmonize.com/PROBE/Aids/manual/style.htm is
an excellent, highly readable article by Kurt Vonnegut,
a novelist. I guess the article sounds so fresh, because
Mr. Vonnegut takes his own advice "sound like yourself"!
I quote him - "I myself grew up in Indianapolis, where
common speech sounds like a band saw cutting galvanized
tin, and employs a vocabulary as unornamental as a
monkey wrench." Well, a band saw cutting galvanized tin
can make music too! Think about it:-)

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

------------------------------------------------------
Learning Content Creation Technologies
------------------------------------------------------
1.If you are involved in creating lessons that impart
learning at BL1 and would be implemented in the ILT mode,
you would probably consider using Flash Cards as one of
the learning devices. The use of electronic media,
however, makes the use of Flash Cards slightly difficult.
If you would still like to include Flash Cards as a
memorization device, then click on
http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/macgems/2005/10/iflash/index.php
to read "Fantastic flash cards" by Dan Frakes. Though this
is a review of Loopware's iFlash 2.6 for Mac OS2, yet it
will introduce you to the workings of a digital Flash Card.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Learning Content Management Technologies
--------------------------------------------------------------

1.Instructional Design should pave the way for learning
technologies. I am not sure who led whom in the case of
tegrity pens, but the concept (and its application) is
enchanting! Click the link http://www.tegrity.com/tegrity_notes.php
to read about a pen that allows you to capture time. The pdf
available at http://www.tegrity.com/Articles/
Tegrity_The%20Chronicle%20of%20Higher%20Education_22406.pdf
provides an interesting insight into the way the tegrity pen
allows students to capture each moment of a classroom lecture,
enhanced with their own notes.

******************
Media Section
******************

I love webquests and I love them best when I am on a
media treasure hunt. I often stray from the intended
course, and I end up savoring a media fare I never thought
existed. Well, here are some gems that turned up during
my recent quest.

Art Concepts:
-----------------
The Masters - Leonardo da Vinci
We've already collected a lot of links that tell us about
the concepts of art. This month onwards, I will bring you
the best link that I can find on the masters. The artistic
past of human race exists on both sides of the sixteenth
century, but sixteenth century gave us, among other noted
artists, the great Leonardo da Vinci. Click
http://www.mos.org/leonardo/ to enter a treasure cove that
contains information on Leonardo as an artist, a scientist,
and an inventor. Another link that you may want to explore
is http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/bio/l/leonardo/biograph.html,
which has a comprehensive life-history of da Vinci.

Graphic Design Concepts:
---------------------------
"Graphic Design Basics" at http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/ET650_online/MAPPS/GDBasics.html
is an excellent resource to recapitulate what works and what
doesn't. This page links to the rules of thumb for audience,
layout, typography, image, and color.

Media Technologies:
--------------------------
Though it's a long shot, but if you do work with a
logo-creation company (sigh!) or with a company that often
creates logos, do visit http://www.aaa-logo.com/ to review
AAA a logomaker. The trial is free; the tool costs
US$50 approximately.

Photoshop Pros:
-------------------
Are you passionate about Photoshop? Do you just love the
power it gives you? Well then! Here's the site for you.
Check out http://www.worth1000.com/ for some crazy pics!
A toy currency printer that prints real currency! Yes,
with Photoshop anything can be real. You can also compete
here at the Active Advanced Photoshop Contests. All the best!

Flash Fans:
-----------------
I know that this link doesn't fit into the Wavelength pattern.
The animations here are extremely simple, but I found
them interesting. Those of us, who work for the eLearning
industry, often find ourselves creating animations for
technical concepts such as computer viruses. Click
http://www.pandasoftware.com/download/documents/Publicaciones/GaleriaGrafica/default.htm
to view some simple but effective animations. I think the
instructional designers should also review this link.

3D Dons:
-----------------
Six years ago, I had chanced upon this site. Then
Rustboy was under development. Today I saw it again. Things
have changed. The project may transform into a big budget
movie now, according to the latest diary entry by Brian Tayor,
the creator of Rustboy. Click http://www.rustboy.com/rustweb.htm
to meet Rustboy to view this character and read
about its development.

******************
Site of the Month
******************

The site of the month for June is
http://adisney.go.com/disneypictures/thewild/index.html!
This site pulsates with life. If you don't believe me,
click the link to experience it. As usual, I'll take you
on a guided tour of this site, then leave you alone
to discover.

Let's begin.

1. The first thing that pulls you into the site, is the
parallex! Am I speaking Greek? Nope! If you don't understand
what I mean, you haven't clicked the link yet, and if you
have, you haven't moved your mouse over the page. Click
then read...then read and click!

2. The parallex, which has been achieved by dynamically
controlling three levels of depth (dear programmers, I am
not talking of the "levels" and "depths" in
ActionScript here:-)) in the cityscape. All the graphics at
this site have been taken from the movie (yes, I've seen it,)
and this is true for the cityscape too.

3. When you move your mouse over the page, even the top
menu moves laterally. I find the effect very refreshing.

4. The six huge billboards are links to the six sections.
Click on any of the six to experience a zoom in to the
section. My suggestion is that you begin with "Games."

5. I don't quite love the pre-loader, yet it gels with the
theme. The games homepage displays some of the characters
together in a sort of collage. I like the way the collage
has been put together. The TV look and feel technique has
now become quite outdated, yet they look nice and balance
well with the collage on the right-hand side.

6. I tried the game Junk Dunk. I think the game is built
on a very simple concept, yet the graphics are eye-catching.
The game is about cleaning the zoo park of the junk. How
about lending a helping hand to Benny?

7. Check out the Photos section. This section contains
pictures from the movie. I like the implementation of this
section. The bottom menu has the photo numbers. When a
number is clicked a small preview image animates and
appears. When you click the number, you can see the
corresponding photo on the same page - with a dialog! Well
the dialogs make all the difference. In Dale's cone of
experience "Audio with Photos" is placed lower than
"pictures and visual symbols".

8. I should stop now and leave you alone so that you may
sample the site in peace.

If you have been busy reading the review and have not
clicked the url so far, click http://adisney.go.com/disneypictures/thewild/index.html.
now.

Happy viewing!

**********
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
************

Have you heard the reason Apple gave for pulling out of Bangalore?
They felt that India is no longer the low-cost outsourcing
destination that it used to be. How about digging out the truth
behind this statement? Here are some links that may help you
begin your quest.

---------------------------------------------------------
INNOKEN requires Artist Graphic Designers
for its Game Development Projects
(Location:Delhi:NCR)
---------------------------------------------------------

Innoken calls the artist graphic designers to join its team.
If you love to imagine and are passionate about bringing
your imagination to life, click
http://www.innoken.com/games.htm. If you think your
artistic aptitude and graphic design skills match the
requirements of Innoken Games, please send the URL of your
web-portfolio to jobs@innoken.com. If your portfolio matches
Innoken's requirements they will contact you.

=============================
Instructional Design Jobs:
=============================
--------------
Mumbai
--------------
LEARNING MATE::
Instructional Designers (Exp:3 to 8 years)
Team Leader - Writing and Instructional Design (Exp:5 to 8 years)
Lead Instructional Writer (Exp:3 to 5 years)
Instructional Writer (Exp:1 to 3 years)
http://www.learningmate.com/index.html ->Careers ->here

LIONBRIDGE:: Content Writers (Exp. Not mentioned)
LIONBRIDGE::Technical Writers (Exp not mentioned)
LIONBRIDGE:: Instructional Designers (Exp. Not mentioned)
http://www.lionbridge.com/careers/empdisplay.asp?chkJobCat=18&chkJobCat=12
&chkJobLoc=45&chkJobLoc=44&intPageID=584&jobSearch=Search

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

--------------
Chennai
--------------
APTECH:: Instructional Designer / Content Writers
(Exp:Min 1 year)
::Also at Pune and Mumbai
http://www.aptech-worldwide.com/current_openings.htm

LIONBRIDGE::Lead / Sr. Instructional Designer
(Exp 3 to 4 years)
LIONBRIDGE::Project Director/Sr. Project Manager/
Project Manager(Exp 5 to 10 years)
http://www.lionbridge.com/careers/empdisplay.asp?chkJobCat=18&chkJobCat=12
&chkJobLoc=45&chkJobLoc=44&intPageID=584&jobSearch=Search

-------
PUNE
-------
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

-------
US
-------
NIIT:: Project Manager (Exp not mentioned)
http://www.niit.com/Admin/ASP/Aboutus.asp?Section=Global&L1=Employment&
L2=Current%20Positions

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

MAGIC SOFTWARE:: Program Managers/Project Managers
Project Leaders (Exp: 8 years)
http://www.magicsw.com/careers.htm

NIIT:: Instructional Designers (2+ years) ::
Also at Mumbai
NIIT:: Senior Project Managers (8+yrs (4-5 yrs in eLearning)
http://www.niit.com/Admin/ASP/Aboutus.asp?Section=Global&
L1=Employment&L2=Current%20Positions

===============================
Flash ActionScript Jobs
===============================
--------------
Delhi, NCR
--------------
MAGIC SOFTWARE:: Flash Programmer/Analysts
(Exp: upto 6 years)
http://www.magicsw.com/careers.htm

--------------
Mumbai
--------------
APTECH::Lead Multimedia Developers and Programmers
(Exp:3 years or more)
http://www.aptech-worldwide.com/current_openings.htm
(also at Pune)

LEARNING MATE:: Flash Developer(Exp:1-3 years )
::Team Leader, Flash (Exp: 4 to 6 years)
http://www.learningmate.com/index.html -->careers

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

===============================
Media Jobs:
===============================
--------------
Mumbai
--------------
LEARNING MATE: Graphics - Team Leader (Exp:6+ Years)
:: Graphics Illustrator (Exp:2 to 4 years )
:: Graphics Designer (Exp: 1 to 3 years )
:: Visualizer (Exp: 2 to 4 years )
http://www.learningmate.com/index.html ->Careers ->here

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

--------------
Delhi, NCR
--------------
MAGIC SOFTWARE:: User Experience Developer (Exp:1 to 3 yrs)
:: Senior User Experience Developer (Exp:3 to 5 yrs)
http://www.magicsw.com/careers.htm

--------------
Chennai
--------------
APTECH::Lead Graphic Designers & Artistes
(Exp:3 years or more)
http://www.aptech-worldwide.com/current_openings.htm
(also at Mumbai)

SIFY::
Senior Executive - Web Page Designer/Creative GUI,Portals
Exp 2 to 4 years
http://sifycorp.com/scripts/workcontents.asp?id=21

***************
Laugh-a-little
***************
Some of Wavelength's elite audience find the
Laugh-a-Little section very refreshing. If you are one of
those who scroll down to the Laugh-a-Little section the
moment they click open Wavelength, I should say that you
are missing out on a lot of little jokes masquerading as
serious stuff! If you don't believe me, read through the
preceding sections of Wavelength to confirm.

So you caught me:-) I always say that Wavelength's audience
comprises the intellectual elite!

Here are some hi-fi jokes for your cerebral palate. Let's
begin with the teachers' jokes collected and presented by
David Shay.

I hope you will overlook the occasional off-color joke in this
cool collection at http://www.workjoke.com/projoke80.htm.

If you are wondering whether I underestimated the
sophistication of your cerebral palate, scroll down to
"The Evolution of a Math Problem." Isn't it an Analysis
level joke?

I just had to click the Previous button on the page above,
and I discovered an interesting collection of artist-jokes.
Click http://www.workjoke.com/projoke77.htm to read some
excellent artist-jokes. I specially recommend the one about
Pablo Picasso! I can assure you that this joke could be
a true story.

And now for those who prefer the micro-view of
content -- the editors, I click the next button to arrive at
http://www.workjoke.com/projoke81.htm. Please scroll down to
read "Simple Questions, Complicated Answers",
"Top 24 Oxymorons", "Translation and Advertisement", and
"Classified classics."

I hope you are laughing so hard that your chair has to
come alive in order to stay under you. Keep laughing,
until we meet next month.

****************************
Innoken Online Games
****************************
This month, join Ina and journey into the past to rescue
Avia Magna from the clutches of the evil wizard Evilavil.
While you are in the dungeon (yes!) tickle the donkey
and the spider!

Click http://www.innoken.com/games.htm and find the game
"The Rescue of Avia Magna" for a quick journey into the
medieval world.

**************
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.com
Wavelength, Link House, 2nd Floor,
C-4, Sector 10, Noida-201301, India.
Ph: 9810324284 / 9810412297 / 0120-4315505
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com

*************************************************************************
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

Subscribe/Gift Subscription/Unsubscribe - Click on http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/subscribe.htm
*************************************************************************