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Explore how University of Maryland, Baltimore County utilizes streaming media to enhance IT training, covering production basics, lessons learned, and content development strategies. Contact for more information.
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Using Streaming Media for Online User Training in IT John Fritz Bill Shewbridge University of Maryland, Baltimore County EDUCAUSE, December 4, 2001
Overview • UMBC Background • Basics of the Production Process • UMBC Examples • Lessons Learned • Presentation And Contact Information
Institutional Drivers for Using Technology at UMBC • Faculty • By and large, about 75% of our faculty are comfortable with basic technology (email/web) and exploring various stages of how technology can be used to improve learning. • Assured Access to Computing Initiative • Focusing on providing all students with access to technology. • Student expectations: they are beginning to expect and request courses to utilize technology. • Institutional Support • FaCT program was successful in getting faculty started. • OIT and the Faculty Development Center provide joint faculty training sessions and brownbag workshops
Classifying Technology Usage • Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) • Technology augments in-class learning with the focus on providing course information and additional online resources.This represents the bulk of our current faculty usage • Online Courses • Technology provides the means of running the course and a full complement of course information. • Hybrid Courses • Course meets in-class and online. In-class sessions are reduced and the class meets online for discussions, group work and assessment.
Fall 2001 Instructional Technology Activities • Computer classrooms – 84 courses • OIT labs support 84 classes using technology enabled classrooms • Reached saturation 3 years ago and have worked with Physics, GES, and English to create departmental facilities • Blackboard – 234 courses with 6,436 distinct students • Usage is predominately in the social sciences and humanities • Doubled student enrollments each of the past 3 years • Expanding into organizational support areas (Delta Initiative, Faculty Senate, Student Affairs) • Faculty-developed course web pages • Usage is predominately in the sciences
Why Online IT Training? • Support crunch necessitated a more scalable approach • Video on demand is more customizable by the end user • Availability of a robust, broadband infrastructure (e.g., IPTV, Internet2) • We could train users on UMBC specific IT issues they couldn’t find elsewhere: • Publishing web pages @ UMBC • Using the campus portal myUMBC • Creating and managing your user account
First Efforts • Broadband Video for Training • MPEG1 and IPTV • Example: • PowerPoint in the Classroom • ResNet Installation
Pre-production Content expert Scriptwriter Organization and efficiency of material and resources Allocating resources Multimedia integration issues Production Acquisition Cameras Formats Audio Graphics Post-production Editing Multimedia Integration Distribution Production Process Basics
Lessons Learned and Refocus • Limits of MPEG for screen capture • FINWeb MPEG • FINWeb Screen Captures • Recognition that multiple solutions are needed • Criteria for media selection • Quality of delivery • User Accessibility • Production Issues
Quality of Delivery • Resolution • Motion • Sound
User Accessibility • What does the user need to setup to use. • On demand issues: when does the user access it.
Production Issues • Time • Resources • Expertise
Streaming at UMBC • IPTV myUMBC (MPEG) • Screen Capture (FINWeb) • QuickTime w/ PowerPoint
Summary • Learning computer applications means looking at computer screens, but doing so through online video is difficult. • Producing “compelling” content that could substitute for face-to-face training requires more time and planning than one might think. Are we trading a support crunch for a production crunch? Who develops the content? • Takes time to change user expectations and support culture. If we can’t meet everyone’s needs, how can they adapt so they can meet their own?
Contact www.umbc.edu/oit/NewMedia/present/aln.htm www.umbc.edu/iptv fritz@umbc.edu shewbrid@umbc.edu
University of Maryland, Baltimore County • Technology Focus • Technology literacy • Assured Access
New Media Learning and Development • Classroom Training • Automated “just-in-time” skills training
TV’s influence on user expectations • Video is relatively easy to produce now and mere inclusion is sufficient. • The standards will rise to meet the level of expectation of a TV viewing audience. • As producers incorporate more they will want to expand their capabilities.
Use Video for What it Does Best • See places, people and things otherwise unavailable. • Historical Documentary • Travelogue • Live Events • Expresses emotional content • Drama • Personal Service Training • Visualizes actions. • Resnet
Is video the right option? • Video will require an increase in resource commitment to a production, although stages of the production process are the same. • It will be a process and resource-intensive product that will call for greater efficiency time and money.