Conversation with Learning Colleagues in Delhi

Learning Strategies, Learning Outsourcing, Social Learning, Instructional Design and Learning in a Changing Economy were just a few of the topics that soared around the table during a two hour dialogue with a dozen learning colleagues in Delhi today.

Organized by Sangeeta Murthi Sahgal from Lumis Partners, we had colleagues from Indian companies as well as Indian divisions of groups like GE and IBM.

Clearly, some of the issues facing learning in India are parallel to those in the US and other parts of the world. From proving the worth of learning to the shifting nature of design.

Some of the unique to India discussions included these points:

• Move beyond the stereotype that learning designed in India is efficient but not creative. It is critical to ask for and design a process that will give the instructional design teams the mission to go wider. There is a strong animation and gaming skillset in India that is rarely tapped in eLearning projects.
• View Learning deliverables as part of the process rather than just products (eg. x number of modules).
• The need to provide skilling to the millions of people in India that are way below the poverty line ... and to create new ways of engaging business in that effort.
• The impact of increased taxes on outsourcing in the US may have on the learning projects sent to India.
• The rise in social learning, collaboration and coaching in a scalable, global learning delivery model.
• Add a usability and feedback loop between instructional designers and the project sponsors.
• Shift in the competencies for Instructional Designer higher education programs.