Rick Loup, Paula Cuccurullo (EDINA), Karla Youngs (TASI), Luis Carrasqueiro (MAAS/BUFVC)
After Karla and Luis finished their presentations, the floor was opened for discussion. An RSC manager said that the real difficulty for RSCs is twofold: making users aware of the resources available to them in their subject area; and, creating the electronic lesson. Luis pointed out that technology complements rather than replaces traditional learning. Future BUFVC workshops will include subject lesson plans and see how they can be made better through the use of moving images. Karla agreed, adding that new media must be used effectively if they are to be useful. TASI workshops look into lesson improvement, including case studies and learning objects. Maybe lecturers need to be taught to use new media as a matter of course. Or perhaps we can only do so much for users, and must lead by example.
Rick wondered about the viability of turning worthwhile projects (such as FILTER, discussed by Karla) into resources rather than letting them end. Final reports detailing findings are all well and good, but perhaps this project work would better serve the community as an evolving resource.
He next brought up the two types of new media: high quality archive images and films, and the DIY "guerrilla" world of images/films - can these two strands be brought together? Luis discussed the clearing of collections for Education Media OnLine. He is aware that further education sites need more vocational content, but this is more difficult to obtain, as this is all valuable material for providers and they have been loath to let the rights go. If colleges are creating their own footage, he'd like to know about it. This could be a possible project, producing this material; it may be the only way to add vocational content. Rick said this could be similar to how the BBC/ITV/C4 fund programme creation and then buy back content.
However, Karla pointed out the difficulty of quality control. Ensuring that metadata and image/video guidelines are met is difficult. "Quick and dirty" can suffice in classes, but not in a national resource. One site rep pointed out that there are many institutional AV departments producing their own good quality video material, as are professional media courses. This should all be tapped into for some kind of archive. There was general agreement, though another attendee said that she was cynical as she'd been hearing similar noises for years. The "gatekeeper culture" exists, but many in higher education prefer DIY materials to those produced elsewhere. There's not enough time or reward for innovative teaching in a research culture.
Luis said he meets with scepticism and disinterest in many places he visits, but cited his overwhelmingly positive experiences at Solihull 6th Form College in their use of Education Media OnLine. Karla felt that it's not all doom and gloom; we seem to be moving to a more positive reality. Luis' experiences may show that institutions need media champions as well as ILT champions! One site rep agreed, discussing his institution's changes in departmental structure; now learning technology is more closely integrated with other departments.