Blessed are those who have not Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believedseen and yet have believed

Tony Rest

University of Southampton

a.j.rest@soton.ac.uk

www.soton.ac.uk/~ecchemed

Blessed are those who have not Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believedseen and yet have believed

A “retrospective” on the 10th Anniversary of the start of the

UFC/HEFCE Teaching and Learning Technology Programme

OutlineOutline

The Chemistry TLTP Projects Aims and Objectives of the CVC Project Using Images Obtaining Images Tips from the CVC Project Customising Images CVC Resources The Future Further Information, e.g. WWW Addresses Acknowledgements

CoursewareVideoeLABorate

The Chemistry TLTP ProjectsThe Chemistry TLTP Projects

Chemistry Courseware Consortium (Lead Site = Liverpool; Coordinator = Steve Walker; “text and animations”; interactive CD ROMs)

Chemistry Video Consortium (Lead Site = Southampton; Coordinator = Tony Rest; “video”; tapes/laser discs/interactive CD ROMs)

eLABorate (Lead Site = York; Coordinator = John Garratt; “simulations”; www)

Aims and Objectives of the CVC Aims and Objectives of the CVC ProjectProject

To deliver high quality images and resources compatible with 21st Century technology

To support learning , teaching and training in the practical aspects of Chemistry

To provide images and resources for lectures, tutorials, seminars and self-paced learning

Using Images : GeneralUsing Images : General

Possibilities = Boundless – lectures, laboratories, seminars, self-paced learning,

distance learning, stimulating interest

Problems = Many but not insurmountable – obtaining appropriate visual images, cf “Chemistry

Images” database– using/customising resources – delivering user-friendly materials – TIME, COST and EXPERTISE

Using Images : “Recorded” Using Images : “Recorded” ImagesImages Advantages

– can be seen many times by students in a wide variety of contexts;

– wide variety of material; – value can be added to images via interactivity

Disadvantages– can be regarded as“remote” from students; – can be regarded as “entertainment”– may need customising to match desired contexts

Obtaining ImagesObtaining Images

Make them “In-House”– can be “inexpensive”– can be designed to exact course content needs– often duplicate material already made elsewhere– NO COPYRIGHT PROBLEMS

Import them from “Out-of-House”– can be higher quality– often generic rather than specific – reduces “re-inventing existing wheels”– COPYRIGHT PROBLEMS

Tips from the CVCTips from the CVC

Quality is important

- high specification video (digital) and audio (actor)

- professional directing, editing and post-production

- professional presentation of products

- range of authors + peer review (OU Course Team model)

- detailed preparations (storyboards, text, briefings)

- good continuity (filming location, equipment, chemicals)

Tips from the CVC: continuedTips from the CVC: continued

Resources must be user-friendly - laser video discs plus bar-code access = simple to use, robust

- CD ROMs offer numerous possibilities for interactivity = more portable, considerable scope for customising

- www can suffer from long down-loading problems for long video clips

Materials must be transferable - scope for customising materials

- Copyright issues must be settled

Customising Images: Why?Customising Images: Why?

few resources ever exactly meet the desired need

different levels of explanation may be required

adaptation for different user groups may be required, e.g. distance learning, disadvantaged students

translation into/from other languages and platforms

enormous benefits from addition of interactivity

Customising Images: Why? Customising Images: Why? continuedcontinued Images are costly to produce

Cost savings can be achieved through re-cycling materials

“re-inventing wheels” can be minimised

technology is readily available in institutions and at home

considerable scope for exchanging technical experience, skills and resources

international goodwill exists fro collaborative projects

Customising Images: How?Customising Images: How?

capture (stills, animations, VHS tapes, laser discs, CD ROMs, DVDs; video and audio), digitisation and compression (AVI, MPEG 1, MPEG 2)

mix images with text and graphics using course management software (“Toolbook”, “Director”, “Flash”)

compile and produce the final product

delivery via CD ROM, DVD, Networking and WWW

CVC ResourcesCVC Resources

“Basic Laboratory Chemistry” - series of 19 laser video discs and VHS tapes (each 30 min duration with rapid selection of video segments via bar codes (laser discs); Chemistry Video Consortium (UK); 1995/96)

“Practical Laboratory Chemistry” – series of 19 CD ROMs (each containing 30 min video, subtitles, and a quiz; CVC; 1999)

“Practical Chemistry for Schools and Colleges” – a series of 2 CD ROMs (each containing 30 min video, a glossary, scrolling text, and a quiz; CVC and Royal Society of Chemistry; 2000)

CVC Resources: continuedCVC Resources: continued “Physical Chemistry Experiments” – series of 4 CD ROMs (each comprising

background theory, worked examples, a glossary, video, scrolling text, actual sets of experimental data, and a quiz; CVC and Educational Techniques Group Trust (RSC); 2001)

“Le bon geste practique en Chimie” – a series of 19 dual language (French/English) CD ROMS adapted from “Practical Laboratory Chemistry” (each comprising video, scrolling text, dual commentary and text options, a glossary, and a quiz; CVC and Centre de Developpment Informatique Enseignment Chemie (CDIEC, Nice; 2002)

“Practical Laboratory Chemistry for Students with Learning Difficulties” – a pilot CD ROM (30 min video, scrolling text, text print out, variable font and colour options, a quiz, and key stroke operation option ; CVC unpublished work)

CVC Resources: ExampleCVC Resources: Example

“Le bon geste pratiqueau laboratoire de Chimie”/ “Practical Laboratory Chemistry”

http://www.unice.fr/cdiec/cdroms/le_bon_geste/le_bon_geste_uk.htm

Future CVC ActivitiesFuture CVC Activities

Developing Multiple Language Versions (Export/Import)

Transferring to New Platforms, e.g. DVD and Internet

Extending the “Chemistry Images” Database Developing Resources for Disabled and

Disadvantaged Students Producing NEW Video Materials, e.g.

“Advanced Practical Laboratory Chemistry”

Needs for the FutureNeeds for the Future

Better “Grassroots” awareness of resources and technology - National Centres providing archiving and facilities to exchange images, information and expertise, e.g. LTSN Centre (Hull, UK) and CDIEC (Nice, France)

Better International Cooperation and Collaboration - Network of National Centres, e.g. European Chemistry Thematic Network (Lyon, France)

Support from national bodies – chemical societies, government agencies, e.g. Royal Society of Chemistry, HEFCE

Sponsorship from national and international agencies and chemical companies, e.g. European Commission, ICI

Further InformationFurther Information

Chemistry Video Consortium Project (http://www.soton.ac.uk/~chemweb/cvc/)

“Chemistry Images” Database (http://www.rsc.org/is/cvc/chem_img.htm)

Obtaining CVC CD ROMs: Viewtech Educational Media (http://www.viewtech.co.uk)

SOCRATES Open and Distance Learning Project “Multimedia Resources for Chemistry” (http://mrc.chem.tue.nl)

Centre de Developpment Informatique Ensignment Chimie at University of Nice (http://www.unice.fr/cdiec/)

European Chemistry Thematic Network (http://www.ectn.net)

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

UK Higher Education Funding Councils (Teaching and Learning Technology Programme) for funding the CVC Project

Colleagues who worked on the CVC “Basic Laboratory Chemistry” videos (33 authors from 22 universities + professional director and camera/editing/production staff)

Don Brattan and Oliver Jevons who helped with working up the CVC video material to produce CD ROM packages

Daniel Cabrol-Bass and Jean-Pierre Rabine (University of Nice) who colloborated in developing the multiple language CD ROMs

CVC Sponsors: Royal Society of Chemistry and ICI plc