Why use multimedia guide

There are a number of steps to take to prepare to create multimedia resources, which will enable you to produce materials quickly and immediately deploy them into your teaching effectively. The stages described below are how most multimedia projects are developed. These not meant to be strictly followed. In practice they will often overlap, happen at the same time, repeat or appear out of order. They are useful as a general roadmap to the creative process, not as a strict set of instructions to be followed dogmatically.

1. Articulate your problem:
   • Why do you want to do anything at all?
   • What prompted you?
   • Do you have any evidence or data?
   • What is your intuition about the need for the project based on?
   • What is the expected learning outcome you want your students to achieve? If that's not the motivation then try to articulate the desired outcome (such as saving time, trying something new, etc.). How will you know you have achieved your goal?
2. Consider your solution: Now that you have articulated your problem, you can start to design a solution. You may already have some ideas, but in case you need some inspiration have a look at existing case studies or other examples.
3. Plan the necessary logistics: With a clear description of the problem and an idea for a solution, you now need to plan how you will make it a reality, including booking rooms, selecting equipment and software, acquiring training, etc.
4. Create your prototype resource(s)
5. Test your multimedia resources: Make sure the resource is available on different browsers and devices and meets accessibility and copyright requirements.
6. Evaluate the resource(s): How will you decide if the resource is successful? It is important to reflect on whether you achieved your goal or solved the problem you articulated at the beginning: 
   • Has student attainment increased?
   • Are your students more skilled at using equipment or running experiments?
   • Have you saved time and resources?
   • Tools like Moodle's activity report can show you how often students engage with resources, which can assist in decisions about improvements. LEaD may also contact you about recording a case study so that your work can help inform and inspire your colleagues and you are welcome to reach out to LEaD to volunteer! 

• Include the resources you would like to use in your module planning. You should look for the resources when you have decided where you need them and what concepts they will cover.
• Once you have found a resource, check if you are allowed to share it with your students. Ensure that the content has captions or a transcript.
• Plan how you will use the resource: will you watch/engage with the resource simultaneously with students? Would you like to highlight and discuss some parts? Will they need to look it in advance?
• Explain to the students why this resource has been included and what you expect from its use. You can use the description section on Moodle for this purpose.
• Plan one or more activities with the resource that students can do either independently or in class.
• Test that the resource can be seen using different browsers.

The Media Innovation and Learning Lab (MILL) offers a suite of purpose-built facilities and loanable equipment which help staff get the most from multimedia for teaching and learning. The MILL includes:

• Production Booths: Two purpose-built, soundproof production booths with a high-spec Mac and PC and professional quality microphones for screencasting, podcasting, web conferencing and media editing. One booth also doubles as a control booth for the studio.
• The Presentation Station allows a presenter to be superimposed over an image, a screen capture, or a PowerPoint presentation

Production Booths and the Presentation can be booked via IT Self Service Portal.

The Rapidmooc is a new facility available in the STEM TV Studio.

Please note: The studio is only available for staff in School of Science & Technology (SST). 

Rapidmooc is an all-in-one video studio which offers a simple and high quality video production that provides anyone with the tools to produce professional-quality learning videos at scale. Review the guide for information about the capabilities of the Studio and how to book.