Multimedia Reports

Two new reports have recently been produced relating to the Multimedia Industry. The UK government’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has produced a report by the "Multimedia Industry Advisory Group" which contains a section by the Education sub-group. The European Commission’s Task Force on "Educational Software and Multimedia" has also produced a second interim report. Full details of both reports can be accessed via the LearnTel WWW Site. They make interesting reading and comments are invited from both reports.


"Multimedia Industry Advisory Group"


Multimedia is now considered to include accessing information and resources online as well as CD-ROM. In the UK DTI report Education Sub-Group it considers the benefits realisable from use of multimedia in the education sector, the development of technology and the education marketplace, obstacles to the use of multimedia and networks in education, and the contributions that could be made by Government, industry and the education community. The main conclusions in the report - together with some of the options for action - are as follows:

  1. multimedia products and network services offer considerable benefits in the education field, for instance by enabling self-directed learning and greater tailoring of work programmes to the needs of individual students, including under-achievers and special needs children

  2. acceptance of the value of multimedia material and on-line information and communication services rests upon sound conclusions as to the contribution they can make

  3. evaluation needs to be based on a critical mass of evidence and experience, gained from a coordinated programme of major trials

  4. adequate resources need to be allocated for multimedia and on-line services to be fully integrated in teaching methods, and innovative approaches will be needed to help achieve this, such as earmarking of funds, special tariff structures from service providers, or possibly the Universal Service Fund being considered by Oftel

  5. the market for multimedia educational software should be stimulated, by raising awareness and disseminating best practice information, and through close co-operation between content suppliers and teaching staff to develop products tailored to educational needs

  6. emphasis has to be put on skills-training and technical and professional support for teachers so that they have full confidence in the use of IT and electronic networks and understanding of the advantages that can be obtained

  7. multimedia and on-line information services need to be widely available; public access points in libraries, community centres and other public buildings could help secure this, as could out-of-normal-hours use of equipment in educational establishments.


"Educational Software and Multimedia"


Following on from the first report (detailed in issue 6 of LIGIS) this intermediate report now describes in five statements what was the situation and prospects in 1995. This is then followed by twelve recommendations - a modification of the first report and linked in more closely with the December 1995 White Paper on "Teaching and Learning - towards the Cognitive Society" and the numerous opportunities offered by the 1996 European Year of Lifelong Learning.

This report tends to be rather more "up beat" then the UK DTI report as in its first recommendation it states that given what is at stake, Europeans should mobilise at all levels of action - local, regional, national and Community - to ensure that, by the year 2000:

This EC report is essential reading for all organisations who are looking towards the European Commission for assistance in funding towards developing sustainable telematic-based learning services. It will undoubtedly form the basis for future policy in all the European Commission’s Programmes related to Telematics and Multimedia.

Members will find further details on the LearnTel WWW Site with hyperlinks to the full reports.

Issue 7 "Learning in a Global Information Society" 25 March 1997