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WAVELENGTH -- The ID Newsletter of India -- February 2010
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Hello Friends,

Welcome to this edition of Wavelength.
Wavelength wishes you a very happy and colorful Holi!

The weather is warming up in a hurry, and this is also
true for the economic climate in the country. I am sure
that you've already begun to feel the difference - the recession
is now on its way out. It's almost gone - with only its
devilishly pointed tail still visible; and which I hope
shall disappear soon enough. Do you know that the companies
have begun to recruit again? They still are behaving like a
recently slimmed-down diva at an eat-all-you-can party, but
then...this sort of contrived caution doesn't last long! It
won't be long before everyone would be clamoring for your
attention, dear readers; so buckle up and put a shine on
your shoes!

Recently, I was speaking to another fiction-bitten book-ravishing
human (I being the first,) and realized how real were the
differences between the different audience-groups. This
well-read gentleman told me that John Grisham and Robin Cook
could be put in the same category of writers - those whose
stories lacked variations, and so if you've read one book
of theirs, you've read all! Point taken. If you ignore the
nuances and look at the overall theme of their books - you'd
say John Grisham writes only about lawsuits, and Robin Cook
about medicine! The important point to note was not that he
didn't like the two authors, but the fact that JG and RC
remain a couple of best-selling authors! What makes them sell?
The differences among the people who read their books!

The Mystery of the Month article for February helps us explore
the differences between humans through the Schema theory.
Understanding these differences could help us connect with a
majority of our audience with ease. Read the Wavelength article,
"Schema Theory & It's Learning Implications" at
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/articles/schema_theory_and_its_learning_implications.htm

Wavelength's Online Courses on Instructional Design begin their
next sessions on April 01, 2010.

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The IDCWC Online
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The IDCWC (Instructional Design & Content Writing Certificate)
Online Course Details can be found at:
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idcwc_online.htm

This 3-month online course meets the learning needs of those
individuals who want to develop robust instructional design and
eLearning storyboarding skills.

NOTE:
Individuals residing in or around Delhi-NCR are welcome to enroll
for the IDCWC Contact program (details at:
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idcwc_details.htm). This course
is offered as a 2-month intensive contact program with classes at
Wavelength Noida. If interested, please call us at
9810324284/9810412297/0120-4572760.

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The IDSP Online
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The IDSP (Instructional Design for Senior Professionals) Online
Course Details are available at:http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idsp_online.htm
This 2-month online course addresses the ID learning needs of
the senior professionals in the industry.

In the past, this course has been taken by Senior Professionals
ranging from Instructional Analysts/Specialists to
the Content/Training Heads of leading eLearning/Content Organizations
of India. This course requires at least 4 years of experience
in a learning related area.

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The CWWC Online
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The CWWC (Content Writing for the Web Certificate) Online Course
Details are available at: http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/content_writing_for_web_online.htm

If you are exploring the web-writing waters, here's your
lighthouse. This 1-Month intensive online course is for
those motivated individuals who want to create a strong
web-presence by becoming master web-content writers.

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About Wavelength's Contact Courses and Training Programs:
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* The IDCWC contact course: March 28, 2010
* The ASDC contact course: March 31, 2010
* The FAADC contact course: March 27, 2010

Recently, we've witnessed a surge in the Subscriptions for
this Newsletter. I would like to welcome all the new readers
onboard and thank the subscribers who've been inspiring
Wavelength in it's quest for instructional excellence, for
the last five years.

I wish you a bright and brilliant Spring.

Warm Regards,
Shafali

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Table of contents
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From the Editor's Desk
Mystery of the Month
The Cognitive Excursion
Shafali's Blog - THE ZEN OF LEARNING (http://thezenoflearning.wordpress.com)
ID Section
Technology Section
Cognitive Footprints
Views
Laugh-a-little
Innoken Games
Signing Off...

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Events Calendar
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::: Online Course on Web Content Writing :::
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The next session of CWWC Online (Content Writing for the Web Certificate
Online) course begins on April 01, 2010.

Please read the details of this course at:
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/content_writing_for_web_online.htm

Please send queries at: cwwconline [at] vibrantwavelength [dot] com

Last Date for Receiving Applications: March 15, 2010.

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::: Online Courses in Instructional Design :::
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1. IDCWC Online Course
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The next session of IDCWC Online (Instructional Design &
Content Writing Certificate Online) course begins on
April 01, 2010. Read details at: http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idcwc_online.htm
Please send us your queries at idcwconline [at] vibrantwavelength [dot] com

Last Date for Receiving Applications: March 15, 2010.

2. IDSP Online Course
----------------------------
The next session of IDSP Online (Instructional Design for
Senior Professionals Certificate Online) course, begins on
April 01, 2010. Read details at: http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idsp_online.htm
Please send us your inquiries at idsponline [at] vibrantwavelength [dot] com

Last Date for Receiving Applications: March 15, 2010.

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::: Contact Courses :::
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A. Instructional Design Course
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1. The Instructional Design and Content Writing Certificate (IDCWC Contact) Course
begins its next session on March 28, 2010.
Find the details at: http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/idcwc_details.htm

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::: Technology Courses :::
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1. ASDC (ActionScript) Course
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Classes for the ActionScript Developer Certificate (ASDC)
course begin on March 28, 2010.
Registrations are open for this course group. Click
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/actionscript_3_as3_certificate.htm

4. FAADC (FLEX) Course
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Classes for the Flex 3.0 and ActionScript 3.0 Application Developer Certificate
(FADC) course begin on March 27, 2010.
Registrations are open for this course group. Click
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/flex_actionscript3_certificate.htm

3. AS3OOP (Object-Orientd Programming) Course
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Classes for the ActionScript 3.0 with Object-Oriented
Programming (AS3OOP) course begin on March 27, 2010.
Registrations are open for this course group. Click
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/actionscript3_oop_details.htm

4. PLFC Course
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The Programming Logic Fundamentals Certificate (PLFC) course
begins its first session on March 27, 2010. Read the details at:
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/plfc_certificate.htm

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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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Wavelength Article: Schema Theory & It's Learning Implications
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We are what we are because of our schemata. I am different
from you and you are different from Froth* or Sloth*, because
of the schemata that we possess. And yes, 10 years on,
we'll all be different from our current selves, because
of the dynamic nature of our schemata!

Read the Wavelength article, "Schema Theory & It's Learning
Implications" at http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/articles/schema_theory_and_its_learning_implications.htm

* (Become acquainted with Froth and Sloth at my blog:-))

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The Cognitive Excursion
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CLICK is ready to take you places in the real world, while
PEARL is happy to assist your excursion into the world of
micro-blogging! HIVE is it's old dependable self.
Check them out at http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/cog_ex/cognitive_excursion.htm

************::::: NEW SECTION ::::: **********************
THE ZEN OF LEARNING - http://thezenoflearning.wordpress.com
[The February Posts on my Blog.]
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The Advantages of eLearning (1 of 2)
Posted: February 2, 2010
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...Let us continue our quest. We've already discussed
"How eLearning is Different from Classroom Learning" and
we've carefully analyzed the definition and nature of
learning. It is now time to classify the advantages that
eLearning has to offer - to the client and to the audience,
and then analyze them to identify the real advantages and
separate them from others, which masquerade as advantages,
but actually aren't!...

Read the full post at
http://thezenoflearning.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/the-advantages-of-elearning-1-of-2/

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Courage is the First Virtue - Knowledge is the Second!
Posted: February 3, 2010
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...Aristotle said, "Courage is the first of human virtues
because it makes all others possible."

He was right. Courage is the primary driver of any action.
We need courage to face the day, to get up and make our
coffee, and then to drive our car or ride the bus to work.
If we lose our courage, our ability to act in face of a
risk, big or small, then we'll never be able to achieve
anything, ever!...

Read the full post at
http://thezenoflearning.wordpress.com/2010/02/03/courage-knowledge-learning-aristotle/

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The Advantages of eLearning (2 of 2) - The Doppelganger Advantages
Posted: February 5, 2010
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...Following are the Characteristics of eLearning, which
have been touted as advantages by some.

1. Create Once and Integrate according to the Requirements
(The client's perspective.)
2. Cost Reduction of Different Kinds
(The client's perspective.)
3. ...

Read the full post at
http://thezenoflearning.wordpress.com/2010/02/05/the-advantages-of-elearning-2-of-2-%e2%80%93-the-doppelganger-advantages/

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How Instructional Design Helps Content Writers,
Instructional Designers, Trainers, Academicians, and
Technical Writers?
Posted: February 9, 2010
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...The most common of these questions is - "How the
knowledge of instructional design helps?"

This question originates from the term "instructional
design" appearing in the employment advertisements for
the professions indicated in the following list.

Let us see how this "set of skills" help...

Read the full post at
http://thezenoflearning.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/how-instructional-design-helps-content-writers-instructional-designers-trainers-academicians-and-technical-writers/

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Fiction Writers - The True Gurus of Instructional Design
Posted: February 14, 2010
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...If you are looking for an Instructional Design Guru,
look at the master storytellers - look at Arthur Hailey,
Sidney Sheldon, Ken Follett, John Grisham, JK Rowling,
Agatha Christie, Wilbur Smith…and all others who've
transcended the boundaries of their countries to write
stories that have a universal appeal. If you want to
choose a learning ground, choose a book written by them,
and see how they apply instructional design principles...

Read the full post at
http://thezenoflearning.wordpress.com/2010/02/14/fiction-writers-the-true-gurus-of-instructional-design/

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Learning About Twitter, Tweets, Followers, Hashtags, and
Lists - with Sloth & Froth!
Posted: February 26, 2010
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...Froth and Sloth offered to help me make this a bit more
than just some boring download of information - so with my
heartfelt gratitude to both of them - here's their
conversation, reproduced verbatim. I hope it will help
the greenhorn tweeters find their way through the
micro-blogging maze!

Sloth: Hiya Froth! What are you up to?
Froth: I am tweeting.

Sloth: Since when are you a bird?
Froth: No silly. This isn't the avian variety of
twitter. It's the human twitter on the web!

Sloth: Woven by the spiders?...

Read the full post at
http://thezenoflearning.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/learning-about-twitter-tweets-followers-hashtags-and-lists-with-sloth-froth/

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ID Section
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ID Concepts
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If you want a crisp and focused description of the activities
that are included in the instructional design process,
you should click http://www.uab.edu/uasomume/cdm/id.htm to
read "Instructional Design." This page introduces you to
the Stages of Instructional Design, and also helps you
understand how Performance Objectives are written. The eight
stages that it identifies, map to the Dick & Carey model,
sans the somewhat inexplicable "create criterion-referenced
tests" and the very important "Review instruction".

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Language & Culture
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Language is almost synonymous to culture. I believe that
Indians understand this best. We imbibe these differences
and the corresponding stereotypes almost sub-consciously all
through our lives. http://www.immihelp.com/newcomer/indian-english-american-english-language-dictionary.html
is an interesting compilation of parallel Indian American
terms. So go ahead, click the link and wonder why you park
in the driveway and drive in the parkway. You might also
wonder whether people in the US too pass out when they
pass out!

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Writing Style
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Click http://designsensory.com/pws/index.html to reach the
homepage of "Professional Writing Style" written by
Dr. Russel Hirst, Associate Professor of English at
University of Tennesse Knoxville.

This simple yet extensive writing style guide can be
accessed through an equally simple dropdown called "select
lesson." These twelve lessons help you strengthen your
writing skills through topics ranging from "Active Voice"
to "Finding the Right Tone!"

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Technology Section
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Learning Content Management Technologies
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Read Knowledge Management in Instructional Design at
http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-1/design.htm

This article (published in 2002) helps you understand
the relationship between instructional design and knowledge
management in organizations. This article first defines
instructional design, and then explains knowledge management,
to finally establish the importance of the role that
KM plays in making instructional design robust and effective.

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Cognitive Footprints
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Once in a long while, somebody leaves behind footprints
that are strong enough to last centuries. One such giant
of cognitive psychology was John Dewey.

If I quote from his biography at http://dewey.pragmatism.org/, he
was "an American psychologist, philosopher, educator, social
critic and political activist." Born more than 150 years ago,
he received his Ph.D. from John Hopkins University. He then
taught at the University of Michigan for about 10 years,
after which at the young age of 35, he was elected president
of the APA. Dewey taught at Columbia University for about
25 years. He died in 1952 at the age of 93 years.

Read about John Dewey's life and works at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2699/is_0000/ai_2699000097/
Find comprehesive biographical information at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dewey
Read about Instrumentalism at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instrumentalism
Read about Pragmatism at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pragmatism

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Our Readers and Course/Workshop Participants Views
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Read what the Course Participants feel about Wavelength's Courses:

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1. The Content Writing for the Web Certificate
Online Course (CWWC Online) Participants' Views:
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http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/trg_participants_views.htm#cwwconlineviews

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2. Instructional Design and Content Writing Certificate
Online Course (IDCWC Online) Participants' Views:
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http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/trg_participants_views.htm#idcwconlineviews

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3. Instructional Design for Senior Professionals Certificate
Online Course (IDSP Online) Participants' Views:
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http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/trg_participants_views.htm#idsponlineviews

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4. Wavelength Trainings/Workshops Participants' Views:
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http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/trg_participants_views.htm#trainingsworkshopsviews

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5. IDCWC (Contact) Course Participants' Views:
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http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/trg_participants_views.htm#idcwccontactviews

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6. ActionScript Developer Certificate Course
(ASDC) Participants' Views:
-----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/trg_participants_views.htm#asdcviews

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7. The ID Newsletter Readers' Views:
-----------------------------------------
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/views.htm

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Laugh-a-Little
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They say these quotations are humorous, but I think
that there's some very serious stuff here.
Click http://www.1000advices.com/guru/learning_quotes_humorous.html
to decide.

Whether you are into or out of a call-center, you'll
be able to appreciate the humor that you'll find at: http://www.phonephunnies.com/

Read another interpretation of the personality types
(refer to MBTI) at: http://squarewheels.com/jokes/mbtiprayers.html

And if you want to enjoy the interpretations a little more,
take the MBTI test at: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

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Innoken Online Games
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http://www.innoken.com

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Signing Off...
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Have a Beautiful March!

Shafali

Shafali R. Anand
Editor & Publisher, Wavelength the ID Newsletter
Director & Chief Instructional Architect
Wavelength eLearning Consulting and Training Pvt. Ltd.

eMail: shafali [at] vibrantwavelength [dot] com
Blog: The Zen of Learning (http://thezenoflearning.wordpress.com)
Twitter: Follow Wavelength News (@wavelengthnews) at http://www.twitter.com/wavelengthnews

Wavelength, A-84, 2nd Floor,
Sector 65, Noida-201301, India.
Phones: 9810324284 / 9810412297 / (0120)4572760
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com

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