Unofficial Salary Survey 2010

It’s time to launch the 2010 Unofficial Salary Survey for elearning, content development and training jobs in India. There's nothing official about this survey. The survey is not based on responses by companies but based on responses provided by you, the employee. This survey is not associated with any organization. The survey is anonymous.

This survey is for you if you are an Instructional Designer, Content Developer, Technical Writer, Project Manager, Graphics designer, Flash Programmer, Content Integrator, Tester, Editor, Trainer, Training administrator, SME, or any other role involved in elearning, content development and training delivery.

Click Unofficial eLearning Salary Survey of India 2010 to participate in the survey. I will publish the findings on my blog here sometime in August/September 2010. This year’s questionnaire attempts to find out more about you and the industry to provide a more in-depth analysis.

Help derive maximum benefit from this survey: spread the word about this survey. Email, Tweet, Facebook, Orkut, LinkedIn and Blog about this page for your friends and colleagues.

Earlier survey findings:

• 2009 (104 responses)
• 2008 (54 responses)
• 2007 (10 responses)

Social/Informal Learning and LMSs

Finally caught up with my RSS reader and discovered some interesting conversations about social/informal learning and LMSs. Here are some posts by industry pundits on the subject.

5 Stages of Workplace Learning by Jane Hart

Workspace Evolution by Jay Cross

The networked enterprise and learning support by Harold Jarche

Why Bash the LMS? by Clark Quinn

In Defense of the LMS (and a case for the future of Social Learning) by David Wilkins

Instructional Design Models

Michael M Grant has published a presentation on Slideshare comparing various instructional design models. Has some useful information on various instructional design models and books you can use to get started with instructional design.

Comparing Instructional Design Models

View more presentations from Michael M Grant.

Can We Formalize Informal Learning?

An interesting discussion has been initiated by Steve Case on the eCube LinkedIn group about formalizing informal learning. What struck a chord with me was Bill Bruck’s response. He says:

This may seem a little off the subject, but it seems like a lot of the learning pundits are making a critical category error. (Not the first time. 10 years ago they confused content with learning and we wound up with SCORM and LMS's that totally lose the learning experience in the Quest for Content.)

A lot of folks are confusing informal learning with social learning, or with the use of social media by equating them.

Bottom line: A lot of (online) informal learning uses social media. Some doesn't. Using Google or an EPSS is learning informally but not socially.

A lot of (online) social learning is informal. Some isn't. Structured coaching programs, incorporating required participation in a webinar or discussion forum into a blended learning program - these are certainly social, but not informal.

When we talk about formalizing informal learning, I think a lot of time we're asking about whether we can incorporate SOCIAL (not necessarily informal) learning into our structured, formal learning programs, and whether this will improve them.

eCube LinkedIn group now has close to 1100 members. Join the group to view the complete discussion.

What Instructional Designers Do and eLearning Certifications

Came across this great post that explains what is instructional design and what do instructional designers do in simple terms. The post Is this instructional design? explains:

Instructional design is the process of identifying the skills, knowledge, information and attitude gaps of a targeted audience and creating or selecting learning experiences that close this gap, based on instructional theory and best practices from the field. Ideally, workplace learning improves employee productivity and value and enhances self-directed learning.

And recently Tony Karrer compiled a great list of elearning certifications and other blog posts that discuss instructional design.