| Abstract |
Video and sound can support education in Europe in a significant way as they appeal to learning modalities other than the purely textual linguistic ones usually found in traditional learning environments. Their use can also lead to increased visual literacy. However despite the fact that video and sound have been used for educational purposes since television was invented most practitioners agree they have never had the impact that was expected. This is largely due to the many challenges faced in making effective use of video and sound, the expensive and complex delivery process and the lack of integration with other media. It is also probably due to a lack of awareness on the side of most educators as to the didactical opportunities offered by video and sound. Fortunately, streaming technologies now allow video and sound to be delivered online via IP, making seamless integration with other media possible and resulting in a rich learning environment capable of supporting texts, slides, self assessment exercises, etc. Practitioner networks using (streaming) video for educational purposes are increasingly common and there are many examples of projects and on-going initiatives in Europe and elsewhere already in existence. It is useful to investigate these examples to understand the various pedagogical, technological and organisational issues that arise in using streaming technologies to support didactical goals in any kind of learning environment. Aspects of good educational practice in the use of streaming technologies worth mentioning are: - Streaming an educational event, e.g. a lecture or seminar - Streaming an external real life event (by inclusion of original material) - Streaming explanatory documentaries, tutorials, experiments - Consulting an online library of educational resources - Constructing and using one's own resources We have only just begun using this new technology and for the time being, given that it is only available on small screens and at low resolution, the quality may be somewhat disappointing. However it is important to note that despite this reservation, we can now use the Internet to both request and deliver rich media as fast as connections allow us, a development that offers terrific benefits to learners independent of time and place. The examples of good practise, referred to in this report, can also be accessed on the eStream web site at http://estream.schule.at. There is also an option on this site to add comments and/or to add new examples. |
