***********************************************************************
WAVELENGTH – The ID Newsletter of India – October 2006
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Hello Friends,

Welcome to this issue of Wavelength.

October is a wonderful month for rejuvenating our minds. It
is the month of festivals. This October has brought along
with it, Diwali as well as Dushehra, two festivals that help
us remember that good always triumphs over evil, that
knowledge always triumphs over it's lack, and also that
knowledge comes to us in many forms through different
channels, even through festivals.

This October, Wavelength meets the training and teaching
professionals for a short discussion on the use of
instructional design in classroom learning. It attempts to
enable the educators recognize the use of instructional design
in their own work. It helps them recognize their strengths by
peeling off the membrane of the "trainer" to introduce
the "educationist" that suffocates due to want of instructional
design. The Mystery of the Month article for October
"Classroom Learning & Instructional Design" addresses the
question that many training and education professionals often
ask - "How our work relates to instructional design?"

In addition to this Wavelength article, we also bring to you
an article on the use of eLearning in training,
"Blended Learning: The Right Cocktail for Corporate Training",
which is authored by Mr. Manish Chandra, Group Manager,
Bharti Comtel Ltd., reviews blended learning as the most
effective learning option for corporate trainings.

Here's some useful NEWS FROM WAVELENGTH.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Autumn Training Workshops
- Instructional Design Workshops/ActionScript Workshops
-----------------------------------------------------------
Wavelength is conducting Autumn Training Workshops
(Nov 20 - Nov 25 and Nov 27 - Dec 01).These workshops should
interest organizations and individuals who would like to go
through the IDCWC or ASDC (in AS2.0) in a fast-tracked mode.
Click http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/autumn_workshops06.htm
to read about these workshops. You can send us queries about
the workshop at:autumnworkshops@vibrantwavelength.com

-----------------------------------------------------------
The IDCWC Online Course -
First Session Course Groups Complete the Course:
-----------------------------------------------------------
The first session of the IDCWC Online Course ended on
September 30, 2006. We thank our first session participants
for placing faith in Wavelength's learning methodology. We
wish them success in all their ventures. We would like to
say to them - "You are now part of us, and this shall remain
true forever. Now that your wings are stronger than before;
fly high, and touch the sky!"

We also welcome aboard the second session participants for the
course. We hope that their journey with Wavelength will be as
fruitful as that of the first session participants.

The third session of IDCWC Online (Instructional Design &
Content Writing Certificate - Online) course shall start on
January 01, 2006. Registrations are open for this session. If
you wish to inquire about this course, please write to us at
IDCWCOnline@vibrantwavelength.com.

-----------------------------------------------------------
NEWS! - Launch of the Instructional Design Refresher
Certificate (IDRC) course!
-----------------------------------------------------------
Wavelength launches an instructional design course for the
experienced professionals. The seasoned eLearning professional
of Indian eLearning and training industry often experiences
a painful void when it comes to mapping his or her experiences
to instructional design theories, models, and systems. This
six-week course for which classes will be held on Saturday
afternoons is an attempt to fill this void.

The details of this course are available at:
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idrc_details.htm

If you are interested in enrolling for this course, please
review whether you have the required work-experience - then
call Wavelength at 9810324284/9810412297/120-4315505. Please
note that the Instructional Design Refresher Certificate (IDRC)
course is currently being offered only as a contact course at
Noida (Delhi - NCR.)

-----------------------------------------------------------
The IDCWC & ASDC Contact Courses at Noida:
-----------------------------------------------------------
The next course groups for both courses will begin classes
on October 29, 2006.

We thank our readers from the bottom of our hearts. We know
that we have more readers than subscribers (currently
Wavelength is subscribed by over 1600 content professionals,)
and would like to request those who read Wavelength to
subscribe to it. When you can have your own copy of Wavelength
delivered in your own mailbox, why not subscribe - it's free
and it's yours!

Shubh Deepawali and Eid Mubarak!

Thanks and Warm Regards,
Shafali R. Anand

(Editor & Publisher, Wavelength)

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

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

*******************
Events Calendar
*******************
1.The next session of IDCWC Online (Instructional Design &
Content Writing Certificate Online) course begins on
January 01, 2007. 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 October 29, 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 October 29, 2006. Registrations
are on for this group. Read details at
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/actionscript_certificate.htm

4. The Autumn Training Workshops begin on November 20, 2006
(Nov 20 - Nov 25 and Nov 27 - Dec 01). These training
workshops closely simulate the IDCWC and the ASDC courses.
Details of the workshops are available at
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/autumn_workshops06.htm

5. The Instructional Design Refresher Certificate (IDRC) course
begins on December 09, 2006. The details for this course are
available at http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idrc_details.htm

6. Classes for the ActionScript 2.0 using Object-Oriented Programming
(AS2OOP) course begin on December 09, 2006. Registrations are now
open for this course group. Click
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/actionscript2_oop_details.htm

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

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

***********************
Mystery of the Month
***********************
The mystery that we've endeavored to resolve this month
is - the relationship between training and instructional
design! The Wavelength article "The Footprints of Instructional
Design in your Classroom" explores this relationship to
arrive at a conclusion that may startle some - As a teacher
or a trainer, you've been using instructional design all
along; though you haven't known it by this name.

This simple article proves the above fact by analyzing some
examples from classroom learning and helps establish the fact
that if any of us could claim instructional design as our own
discipline, the educationists are probably the ones whose
claim would be the biggest! They are the ones who gave us
instructional design in the first place!

If you are a trainer or an educator, "The Footprints of
Instructional Design in your Classroom" at
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/id_classroom_learning.htm
will answer some questions about instructional design that
may be there in your mind.

***********************
Guest Article
***********************
While the Mystery of the Month article explores the
relationship between instructional design and classroom
learning, Manish Chandra's (Group Manager, Bharti Comtel Ltd.)
article - "Blended Learning: The Right Cocktail for Corporate
Training" analyzes the corporate training needs to outline
the best training solution as a blend of eLearning and
instructor-led training.

Click http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/blended_learning.htm
to read this article.

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

-------------------
ID Concepts
-------------------
"What is Instructional Design Theory?" by Peter de Lisle at
http://hagar.up.ac.za/catts/learner/peterdl/ID%20Theory.htm
reflects upon a very important yet basic question. This
article reviews the role of ID theories in learning,
classifies the three types of theories, and explores the
different approaches to instructional design. Thus, this
article will help the intellectual instructional designer
find answers to questions such as - why we need instructional
design theories and how they map to our real experiences.

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

Culture in Focus: Arabian
-------------------------

This month, let us explore the Arabian Culture. The Arabian
culture is in some ways similar to the Indian culture; yet a
closer look would reveal many differences. Find the
similarities and differences at: http://www.traderscity.com/abcg/

http://www.adc.org/index.php?id=1172 gives us an opportunity
to take a very close look at the Arabian culture. This page
also includes a list of English words that have been derived
from Arabic. In a nutshell, this page gives you information
on almost all aspects of the Arabian culture, beginning from
their staple diet to their language!

-----------------------
Writing Style
-----------------------
I guess there is a big market for freelance writing, and
there is an equally big supply pool of individuals who wish
to become freelance writers! Yet there are some myths that
dissuade these potential freelance writers from venturing
into this market. Five myths that prospective freelance
writers worry about are exploded in the article, "Top 5 Myths
About Freelance Writing" by Jessica Ramirez at
http://freelancewrite.about.com/

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Technology Section
*******************************
------------------------------------------------------
Learning Content Creation Technologies
------------------------------------------------------
Media is what makes eLearning worth pursuing. It adds color
and interest to the courses that we develop. For this simple
reason, it is a good idea to follow the trends in media
technology as part of content creation technologies. "Adobe's
Suite Ambitions" is an almost non-technical article, which can
be read (and also understood) by the managers and instructional
designers. It will give you an idea of the increasing media
creation possibilities:-)

Click http://www.computerworld.com/softwaretopics/
software/apps/story/0,10801,90523,00.html
to read this article.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Learning Content Management Technologies
--------------------------------------------------------------
I recently came across an article in one of the leading national
English dailies, which denounced blogs completely and thoroughly.
I think the link http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2003/05/13.html#a3220
provides a good insight into the positive aspects of blogs and
how they connect to learning. This web page also lists links to
some good eLearning-related blogs.

I specifically liked "Blogs in Business: The Weblog as Filing
Cabinet" a blog-post by Dave Pollard at
http://blogs.salon.com/0002007/2003/03/03.html#a101

Happy reading and happier blogging!

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

This month, we devote some of the media section space to
understand the art of Raphael or Raffaello Sanzio, who was
a master of high renaissance.

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

The Masters - Raphael
--------------------------

Raphael (Raffaelo Sanzio), who was born in the family of a
minor Italian painter in 1483, grew up to become one of the
masters of high renaissance. He received his initial training
under Pietro Perugino, who was probably one of the first
Italian painters to use oil as a medium to paint. Perugino's
work is characterized with lower detail, crisper lines, and
higher color contrast. Raphael who initially tried to paint in
his Guru's style later gravitated towards Renaissance art
(which focuses on correctness of perspectives, proportions,
and lighting to achieve realism.) This shift in Raphael's
artistic style could have been due to the influence of
Leonardo DaVinci and MichelAngelo.

Here are some links that will help you understand the
artistic style of Raphael and Perungino, and will enable you
to see Raphael's evolution as an artist who helped define
the high renaissance era.

http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/p/perugino/index.html
classified Perungino's works.
Crucifixion at http://www.abcgallery.com/R/raphael/raphael2.html
which was painted by Raphael in 1502-03, when he was barely
nineteen (and under Perugino's apprenticeship,) clearly brings
out the influence of Perugino's style on Raphael's.

The Fresco. Vaticano, at http://www.abcgallery.com/R/raphael/raphael32.html
which was painted in 1510 clearly depicts Raphael's inclination
towards rennisance art. This shift is clear in the colors,
perspectives, and details used in the fresco.

View other paintings by Raphael at
http://www.abcgallery.com/R/raphael/raphael.html

-----------------------------------
Graphic Design Concepts:
-----------------------------------
http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/skaalid/theory/theory.htm
is an excellent link, which classifies graphic design
theories as follows:
*Classic Graphic Design Theory
*Gestalt Principles of Perception
*Human-Computer Interface Design

-----------------------------------
Media Technology Concepts:
-----------------------------------
Of course you know about the SVGs or the Scalable Vector Graphics
(are there non-scalable vector graphics too? I thought all vector
graphics remain scalable until rasterized!) Delineate is a raster
to vector convertor that uses different vectorizers to achieve
different effects in the vectorized output.
http://delineate.sourceforge.net/screenshots.html shows you the
input image, output image and the environment of Delineate. If
you find it interesting, explore Delineate further at
http://delineate.sourceforge.net/

----------------------
Photoshop Pros:
----------------------
Check out this absolutely amazing collection of Photoshop work at
http://photoshopcontest.com/galleries/index.html - and of course this
site also provides a great window of opportunity to the
Photoshop artists.

Click http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/89986/patients-worst-nightmare.html
for the funny side of this gallery.

---------------
Flash Fans:
---------------
"Cartoon Animation" by Kitiara at http://www.kirupa.com/developer/mx/cartoon.htm
is a sweet and simple tutorial for learning to animate
characters in Flash. The fresh and energetic Flash enthusiasts will
find this link interesting and useful.

------------
3D Dons:
------------
Angel Estevez's 3D nature gallery at
http://www.galleryof3d.com/site/artist.php?UsernameID=angest
kept me spellbound for around 15 minutes. I hope it mesmerizes
you too:) You can view more of Angel's fantastic nature images at:
http://www.angelestevez-art.com/paisagens1.htm

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

Own-your-C(hoice)!
As we grow up, we learn to own up the results of the choices
we make, but then this site is for the innocent teens! The
main purpose of the site is to educate the teens about the
ills of tobacco.
Click http://www.ownyourc.com to visit this excellent site.

Let me tell you something before you begin your exploration.
This site is like an onion. It has many layers so don't
forget to explore them all.

1. What so great about this site with an ugly but funny C? Oh!
What about the C itself? If your connection is not fast enough,
you can have a lot of fun with the C...if it is fast - you
probably have missed upon some cool fun! I won't tell
you more;)

2. Even if you are on a relatively slow connection, please don't
click the left option. Go for the Flash option. The Site of the
Month is the Flash version of this site, and NOT the HTML
version. Also please remember to switch the audio on. The Sun
is quite a talkative character and his dialogs add a lot of
spice to the site.

3. The Sun starts you on your journey by giving you pointers
with a golden-gloved hand. Move your mouse over the landscape.
I wish the pull-chains animated upon the mouse rollover, but
they don't:-( Yet there are enough good things here to offset
certain, shall we say, shortcomings?

4. The C that hovers in the top left corner of the site
coughs out (yuck!) the three main options. These options are
the three areas of the landscape. You can navigate either
through this coughed out menu or through the landscape. I
choose the landscape. (Of course...what did you expect?)

5. There is a dangerous looking, fanged pig at the bottom
right of the page. Explore the pig, which is actually a piggy
bank where you can collect the C-coins. These C-coins are an
excellent concept, as you would realize while navigating
the site.

6. The three pull-chains at the top right corner are very
interesting. The first tells you about the concept (of the
site - which is "Make your Choice and own it",) the second
gives you options of experiencing the site in different
weather conditions, and the third provides you an
opportunity to register.

7. I would like to draw your attention to the way the chains
swing, the way the choices menu springs up, and the way
you make your selections! It's executed so well! You should
pull the chain!

8. Now let's turn our attention to the three areas on the
landscape, choose the one that you would like to explore
first. Notice how the Sun keeps talking to keep you from
getting bored.

9. I clicked the left area and played the cootie catcher,
which is an innovative concept and an excellent implementation
of the decision-tree method.

10. While exploring keep an eye on the C-coins, they can be
redeemed downtown! Downtown?! Yes. Click the C to find more
about this site which rates very high both on concept as
well as implementation!

...and click http://www.ownyourc.com to reach this learning
ground. All the best! I wish you many happy exploration trips
to this site.

**********
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
Certificate course (IDCWC) and Wavelength.

************
Surge Ahead
************
In this growing eLearning industry jobs are growing - they
are also growing in the training industry! In the past one
year, I've seen that many excellent eLearning professionals
have joined the training industry. Today we can probably term
this phenomenon "trans-industry migration", but not for
long - the training industry is fast realizing the potential
of inhouse content development. I see these two industries
merging when it comes to the job market. Professionals shall
move freely between the two industries.

You can find this out by visiting www.naukri.com and entering
"instructional designer" in the keywords area and then
clicking the Search button.

Instructional Design Jobs:
*****************************

Chennai
*******
LIONBRIDGE
----------

Sr. Project Manager/Project Manager (Exp: 10 years with 5+ yrs of managing large projects.)
Lead / Sr. – Instructional Designer (Exp: 3 to 4 years)
http://www.lionbridge.com/careers/empdisplay.asp?chkJobCat=18&
chkJobLoc=45&chkJobLoc=44&intPageID=584&jobSearch=Search

Pune
****

BRAINVISA
---------
Instructional Design - Project Lead (Exp: 2 to 8 yrs)(Also at Delhi)
http://www.brainvisa.com/opening5.html

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

Content developer / Content writer (Exp 1 to 3 yrs)(Also at Delhi)
http://www.brainvisa.com/opening4.html

MAXIMIZE LEARNING
-----------------
Content Writers/Instructional Designers (Exp: 1 to 3 years)
http://www.maximizelearning.com/pop_up_id.htm
Check out Lead Positions at: http://www.maximizelearning.com/pop_up_learnPro.htm

Delivery Head (Exp: 8 years with 4 years as PM or Delivery Head)
http://www.maximizelearning.com/pop_up_DelHead.htm

Mumbai:
********

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

PRAXIS TECHNOLOGIES:
----------------------------------

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

Location: Delhi - NCR
************************
INFOPRO
-------------
Instructional Designers (1-3 years)
http://learning.infoprocorp.com/careers/careers.html

FCS
------
ID Reviewer/Senior Instructional Designers
http://www.fcsltd.com/home/careers/careers.asp#SRID

LIQVID
---------
Project Manager/Senior Instructional Designer/Junior Instructional Designer
http://www.liqvid.com/webassets/Joinus.index.htm

Flash ActionScript Jobs
***************************

Pune
******
MAXIMIZE LEARNING
-----------------
Multimedia Programmers
http://www.maximizelearning.com/pop_up_prog.htm
Flash(Actionscript), JavaScript, HTML, XML, ASP, and PHP

Check out Lead Positions at:
http://www.maximizelearning.com/pop_up_learnPro.htm

Kolkata
*******
INFOSOFT GLOBAL
--------------
ActionScript Developer / Flash Project Manager (Exp: 2 to 3 years)
http://www.infosoftglobal.com/Careers.asp > Job CodeIGPLASD08
pallav@infosoftglobal.com

Location: Delhi
***************

FCS
------
Flash Developer
http://www.fcsltd.com/home/careers/careers.asp#FDev

LIQVID
---------
Web Developer/Flash Developer
http://www.liqvid.com/webassets/Joinus.index.htm

Media Jobs:
**************

Pune
*****

MAXIMIZE LEARNING
-------------------------------
Media Designers (Flash MX, Authorware, Photoshop,Dreamweaver, and Fireworks)
http://www.maximizelearning.com/pop_up_gd.htm

Check out Lead Positions at:
http://www.maximizelearning.com/pop_up_learnPro.htm

Mumbai
******
PRAXIS TECHNOLOGIES
------------------
Graphic Artist (Exp: 3+ years)
Team Leaders: Graphics (Exp: 4 to 6 years)
Graphic Visualizer(Exp: 2 to 4 years)
Graphic Designer (Exp: 1 to 3 years)
http://www.praxistechnologies.net/careers/careers.html

Location: Delhi
**************

FCS
------
Flash Designer
http://www.fcsltd.com/home/careers/careers.asp#FD

LIQVID
--------
Visual Designer/Graphics and Multimedia Developer
http://www.liqvid.com/webassets/Joinus.index.htm

***************
Laugh-a-little
***************
It isn't easy to make people laugh! The truth is that you
require a different kind of creativity to make people
laugh - I don't have it. This is why I try so hard to find
links that have jokes to make you laugh...for I feel that
each tinkle of your laughter adds a drop of happiness to
your life as well as to mine. How? Here's my logic.

Though we all know that we don't take anything with us
when we leave this beautiful earth, but I feel that we do
take away with us - the sum total of all the happy moments
of our lives - when we close our eyes forever, when we
breathe our last; what probably shimmers through our closing
eyelids is a beautiful collage of our happy moments! I can't
be very sure of this for I haven't experienced it yet - but
then I don't want to take the risk of letting these moments
go by. If these links bring a smile to your lips - you too
become part of my collage of memories. Do become.

Here are some links that should make you smile.

1. Hybrid plants...why not? Hybrid flowers...beautiful!
Hybrid animals...what?!
Check out: http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=19777
And to find out why dogs bite their owners (if they do) click
http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=19731

2. A writer struggling to be published, a publisher trying
to change a light bulb, a hall named after a writer...if
you want to know more about them - click
http://www19.homepage.villanova.edu/karyn.hollis/
prof_academic/Courses/common_files/jokes_about_writing.htm

3. Though I should've saved this link for Christmas, I
can't stop myself from presenting it here. Facts are
facts...aren't they? Click
http://www.physlink.com/Fun/IsThereSanta.cfm
to figure out what I am hinting at.

Keep laughing until Diwali-Eid and after!

****************************
Innoken Online Games
****************************
http://www.innoken.com/games.htm

**************
Signing Off...
**************
I hope you enjoyed this issue of Wavelength. Enjoy a Safe
and Happy Diwali-Eid.

I look forward to meeting you again, next month - with more
with more information, news, humor, and enthusiasm. The
venue remains the same...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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