findings

Multimedia Findings Jim Blodget 9/26/96

· Teaching and learning issues drive the development process. Multimedia supports a variety of teaching models. It supports what you already do in the classroom, and is particularly helpful in learning that is active, holistic, authentic, collaborative, integrated and student centered. - no longer linear, itty bitty pieces - now a systems approach - this changes everything - how you do introductions, organization, tasks, assessment, etc.
 * pedagogy (philosophy)**

· Everything is applied · Importance of providing basic skills, learning skills · Broadcast, network models · Can be a motivational tool. The "A" student may want confirmation that they are correct. The "C" student is motivated by seeing how - demos, how-tos. Product may provide an incentive to explore new worlds and go new places in reality, not just in cyberspace. · Product is not a replacement for teaching. It can be a motivational preview, an overview, a how to, a review, a journal. It's can offer a chance to explore, try and verify. It can be guided practice. · Multiple ways of doing the same thing: visuals, audio, kinesthetic (manipulatives). · One student has access to many resources. · The piece you have is valuable. You don't have to be an expert. · Teacher as editor - prescreen Web sites, etc.

· When to start. Technology is a river. When do you step in? · Learning happens on a "need to know" basis. · It helps to start with the big picture. · Theory only makes sense in practice. · importance of models - seeing other people's work · Learn in pieces, then the assembly goes easy because you've been thinking all along (fermentation) · Terminology: Much of the terminology is not necessarily new, but it is used in a new context and needs clarification. · You don't have to learn the whole application - Photoshop, Premiere. You can learn just the pieces you need for the project at hand and learn as you go. · You can still be a sequential person and use this new media.
 * learning multimedia**

· digitize existing materials · support classroom/lab presentation · trade shows and conferences · workshops · electronic publishing - Web & distance ed. · teacher produced tutorials · use a combination of media - video, CD-ROM, Web, books, handouts, lab manuals · Can go from electronic media back to paper to turn in, such as graphs turned in on paper. · Assessment can be part of the product: self assessment, immediate feedback, authentic assessment, assistance to students to produce a product for assessment.
 * needs** & **usage:**

· How do we bring it (MM) into the classroom? (technically & pedagogical) · When do you attempt to do it for yourself and when do you ask for help? · need for facilitated services - help & guidance using in lab, development · How do you explain nonlinear process to linear thinkers? · If your institution requires you to have a course syllabus on record, how do you deal with an interactive syllabus? · Some people do not want to do the production work themselves. · How much time does it take? Does it require a sabbatical? spectrum of needs - from using templates to developing a full curriculum · weak links - color matching, transporting large files, font sizes & styles, software availability
 * issues:**

· visualization · Important side benefit of working on multimedia projects is that faculty have the opportunity to rethink their curriculum, the luxury and the permission to do so. · ADA compliance · editing is easy
 * benefits**

· Conceptualizing, planning & production are separate tasks and skills - some may need help in only one area · You don't have to be a programmer. You can use electronic curriculum tools and templates. · Everything does not have to be done on the computer. - sticky notes - index cards - arrange resources on a light table and digitize later - Use the appropriate medium for the task at hand. · Start at your own comfort level. This may be an area or skill that you already have or content that could be readily adapted to computer format. Start with what you need. Begin with your favorite stuff. · Fractal thinking - what works on the big scale works on the small scale. · Things take time. · You can make multiple versions to serve a variety of audiences and needs. · Can go from paper, something that already exists, to electronic media. · Your product does not have to be a complete information source, not encyclopaedic. · The difficult decision is what to include and what not to include. Where is this fine line? Where do you stop? When do you freeze the feature set?
 * planning and design**

· Is an evolutionary process. Evolving is a key concept. Start out with a rough cut and do incremental improvements. Doesn't have to be perfect or finished the first time or ever. · Concentrate on getting the product done and don't worry about the accessibility of hardware, etc. · Use your specialist as a consultant, as a sounding board. Get feedback. Reflect. · Try things out in small pieces first. Don't try the whole project first. When capturing images, for instance, do 10 or less as a test. · Just do one little piece. Capture ideas for the future on index cards. You can come back to these later. · Gathering materials is a good first step. - copying photos - finding Net resources - capturing stills from existing video tapes - copying audio from existing audio cassettes or videos · Pull from existing resources. Look at readily available resources. USGS CD-ROM of maps of capitals. Had a useable Salem topographic map that could be easily used in a geology program.
 * production tips**

· File management is critical. · You need to develop a method for keeping track of hundreds of resource files. · Important to develop a protocol for naming files. You may have several different versions of the same image, for instance, the raw scan, the cropped and color corrected image, the compressed image. The filename should tell you which is which. · How much room does it take? server room, Zip and Jazz drives · Use CD-ROM to archive working files. · You can make cross platform versions. - media types - text, pictures, sounds, movies - file management - names, compression, formats - web browser for development · Can use player formats to deliver to students.
 * file management** & **back-ups**