Multimedia and web development services
Interactive Multimedia is the section of DeC that deals with interactive media projects, dynamic educational tools, online media activity and custom-built projects.
What is Interactive Multimedia?
Interactive Multimedia is user-controlled information presented in multiple media forms - text, images, audio, video and animation, combined and formatted for screen-based access. 'Interactivity' refers to the level of user control; the user can take their own path through information.
Interactive Multimedia is often incorporated into web sites or CD ROMs. Other delivery forms can be DVDs, projector screen or over private networks.
Areas of Activity
The overall functions of IMM are broken up into 3 main areas of activity which operate concurrently.
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Education Tools
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Various Projects
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Research and Development
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Ongoing delivery of educational tools and other educational software and media through:
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research and development of educational tools for USQ;
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custom design and building of multimedia tools;
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interaction with instructional designers and other academic staff in relation to educational tool development;
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research and recommendation on freeware media/software resources for USQ use;
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direct interaction with, and support to lecturers in relation to educational tool development; and
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integration with the GOOD project in relation to future development and delivery of screen based educational media.
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Continued delivery of course materials and educational media for CD-ROM and WWW.
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Custom design and building of specific multimedia courses.
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Interaction with instructional designers in relation to educational course development.
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Direct interaction and support of lecturers in relation to screen based learning materials.
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Work as needed on various internal projects for WWW or MM purposes;
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Work for external clients in the area of WWW or CD-based educational materials.
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HTML support of USQ website redevelopment.
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- Research and development of screen based educational media for USQ.
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Research and recommendation into third party software use in USQ educational materials.
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General development of policy, standards and support for tools and screen based learning.
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Processes
All requests for IMM work need to be made through the
Principal Manager, Learning Resources. As the number of requests often exceeds the available resources, all requests need to be fully scoped and prioritised.
The following processes form the basis of the QA approach:
- definition of project;
- assigning of instructional designer;
- completion of Work Proposal Form;
- approval of project; and
- allocation of developer.
What are our challenges?
One of the constant challenges is receiving content sufficiently organised in order to commence work. The following questions are asked in relation to defining project components and the function of educational tools.
- What is the educational goal?
- How is it envisaged the tool/project will benefit the student?
- How does the tool/project integrate with the rest of the course?
How is it produced - technically?
In technical and functional terms, IMM uses industry standard Macromedia software plus other software packages. All IMM personnel are trained and experienced multimedia/web developers and designers.
- Web/HTML (Dreamweaver MX, TextPad, W3 Standards reference and Validation);
- Interactive Multimedia Authoring packages (FlashMX, Director, Authorware etc);
- Programming languages such as PHP, Javascript, XML, Actionscript and others;
- General multimedia applications such as Quicktime, MS Media Player;
- Imaging programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Swift 3D, Freehand; and
- IMM development server using, UNIX/APACHE/PHP/SWIFT-GENERATOR.
Contact Information
Contact: Sue Craig
