Thursday, May 31, 2007

Does the Ambience impact e-learning?



Oft my mind pondered whether e-learning as a profession was impacted by the ambience or not. Perhaps Yes.

Unlike the regular software development work, e-learning requires a serene ambience, one that could steer the human mind to levels of utmost calm and well-being wherein it could blossom and relive the instructional designer of creative blockades.

My conversations with some instructional designers in Genpact and NIIT have helped me understand the deeper workings of the human mind to a greater extent – in the way the ambience and the surroundings impinge on performance. Many professionals who undertake onsite visits in the US and Europe have displayed significant levels of enthusiasm, that perhaps was absent when they were squeezed inside a concrete building with little scope for cognitive boosterism.

Whatever be the conditional theories of the human mind and the feelings therein, I feel the following pictures will surely transfer instructional designers to an ethereal realm of calmness. These are the pictures from Austria and the Alps mountain range…














13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, I think the amnbience is important for any creative work. E-learning being an area that is extremely strenous, the work atmosphere and the ambience like the one you show through these photos will work wonders...

Good idea to shape up the ailing industry..

Aswin Kini said...

Of course! Ambience is required for any creative work. But how many companies in india do real e-learning courses. How many know what Instructional Design is about? Many of them can't differentiate between a pageturner and a interactive course.
I feel that improving the ambience of your workplace wouldn't help alone(But it would certainly do some good to a creative mind). It would be better if the mindset of the people around you would change and pave way for real elearning.

Aswin Kini said...

Hi,
could you please write an article on the number of TRUE ELEARNING COMPANIES IN INDIA. It's time the industry knew about the truth.
I am sick of hearing many IT firm starting their own e-learning division(that's what they call it) and boasting of themselves as World Class Elearning companies.

I find that most of their work is templatized and seldom reaches the learner.

AC said...

Aswin,

Thanks for your response.

I will surely work on this article but as you will agree I will have gather a deeper insights into their workings before I write one.

Would be great if you could provide me some hard-facts. We can post the article collaboratively on this blog as well as other forums.

Cheers!

Asim

Anonymous said...

Asim,

I agree that you are the country's first blogger who has created a space for free thought for e-learning professionals.

Keeep up the good work. I appreciate your critical articles for they enlighten me with a different perspective. Its helps me to mature as a person.

Anonymous said...

Yes ambience is surely important...unfortunetely Indian e-learning companies are insensitive to these nuances. All because they are pure body shops.

Anonymous said...

Sure ambience gives the kick...

Anonymous said...

Ambience is surely has an effect on human mind. But it has limited implication on work. What about the mentality of people working around you? The more people are sophisticated and professional, the less amount of open mindedness it assures.

Anonymous said...

hi,
I was planning to join the e-learning industry as an ID, but after reading the opinions of many ID's here, I guess its better i change my idea.
Is the E-learning industry gasping its last breath?
plz respond or e-mail your ans to amazing_arian@rediffmail.com

Anonymous said...

I agree that ambience & concept thinking helps in elearning but I dont believe that the elearning industry is ailing.
I read this blog parents4education.blogspot.com and it spoke about Destination NASA challenge through an elearning site 24x7guru.com.
Besides the contest, they seem to have the right people, Aamir Khan inaugurating the concept and sponsors such as Tata Sky and Radio Mirchi.

Ram Kay said...

Ambience plays a critical role in shaping up a creative product. Creativity comes from the mind, and for the mind to work fruitfuly, an atmosphere conducive to enhance productivity is very much essential.

Anonymous said...

Every writer sufferes from creative ebb at different points of time. These can be very trying times in which he or she needs to relax and get the creative juices.

Anonymous said...

Good job. I'm definitely going to bookmark you!