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

Production Process Basics• Pre-production

- Content expert- Scriptwriter- Organization and efficiency of

material and resources- Allocating resources- Multimedia integration issues

• Production- Acquisition

CamerasFormatsAudio

- Graphics

Post-production- Editing

- Multimedia Integration

- Distribution

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

Method Quality of Delivery

User Accessibility

Production Issues

Live Face-to-Face Training

Great Does Not Scale

Class prep

Broadband (IPTV)

VHS-Quality High bandwidth and client

Can accommodate high-end production values

Narrowband (Real)

Marginal Accessible by most

Lower quality image, bad for lots of movement

Method Quality of Delivery

User Accessibility

Production Issues

Screen Capture

Excellent for Screens - Bad for Motion

Requires Plugin with appropriate CODEC

Real-time Acquisition

Slide Shows Great resolution - can be combined with Streaming Video

Requires ubiquitous Plugin

Can require extensive postproduction

Audio Only High quality possible

Accessible by most

Minimal resources and expertise

Method Quality of Delivery

User Accessibility

Production Issues

Web Sites Broad range of options, generally static

Easy access Design issues, variable production expertise

Video Tape Great for full motion, weak on high resolution

Requires a tape deck

Full range of video production possible

CD-ROM Can integrate variety of media. Bandwidth less of an issue.

CD must be distributed to user

Extensive resources and skills needed

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.