Using multimedia software

12-July-2006

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[ Open Content , Media literacy ]
Multimedia software is easy enough to use. What is problematic is the workflow. The workflow is designed for specialists - not for teachers or educationalists.

Multimedia software is not particularly difficult to use. It is quite rewarding in that there is an air of mystique - you really know how to mix sound or to edit video. In truth it is no harder than using Microsoft word (although perhaps that is not a recommendation).

What is difficult is the workflow. even using Apple software (designed with a services layer for interoperability between different applications) workflows are clunky, each project seems to be different and require advance thought with alternative ways of doing things. the result if that even simple projects become extremely time consuming.

Why is this? Large file sizes don't help. Sharing files can be difficult - they often will not fit on a memory stick. More than that no one seems to have thought out what the software might be used for in the real work. Instead it is designed to a technical specification - for ideal type uses by specialists - not by educationalists, teachers or researchers as one part of a busy workload.

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Graham Attwell; 12-July-2006 13:51:38; forum (1) help

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1 Multimedia Software

An interesting observation...

I'll presume that you're including "e-learning software" in the category of multimedia?

Your observation is sound, but what's the solution? I suppose I've accepted as a given that authoring software is challenging to use and that the richness of features stems from the requirements of e-learning. Tools like "Authorware" I found difficult to fathom, while others out there seem to have the curriculum designer in mind.

How do we get some kind of reusability and minimized work effort included in our tools?

Mark Sheppard, 17-July-2006 00:55:33 forum / discussion

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