Staggering The M-Conversion

We've already discussed that multimedia is a step worth taking, for the benefit of the teachers AND the students. However, it's now been brought to my attention that the hesitation in the conversion of multimedia, isn't the idea, its the practice. Multimedia can be difficult in some respects and time consuming in others, two things a teacher in Rhondda Cynon Taff are not interested in. So how can we spin this and make teachers in RCT want to use multimedia when there's no interest in taking the "large step for mankind" into this world.

The best way I can come up with, from the top of my head is to stress how easy some aspects of multimedia are, and I know what your thinking, it's all very well me saying this when I'm technically orientated anyway, but with the correct guidance it could be easy for everyone. Okay, learning certain multimedia programs can be like learning a new language altogether but where there's a difficult option, the world introduces a more user-friendly option and allows the same work to be carried out in a much easier way.

Take Flash for instance, to make a quiz in flash takes a huge amount of technical knowledge, to use ActionScript and components and it's all very complex, however, in Captivate, creating a quiz is as simple as choosing "insert quiz" from the menu and then typing the question and answers into the correct boxes.

What I'm really trying to say here is that, although conversion to multimedia is a huge push, it doesn't take a huge effort to do this. Especially with organisations such as our department at the University of Glamorgan (C.E.L.T) out there trying to cushion the fall for even the least technically minded teacher. We are here to help, we really are. I mean, we're not saying "everything should be Multimedia Now or Else", we're saying "we'll help you make the transition slowly and build the knowledge to advance on that transition in a smooth and easy way"

The Driving Force

This video is a very powerful video relating to one of the many worries of today when it comes to educating children.



I suppose this video serves as part of the Driving Force to my "campaign".

School is compulsory, that's no surprise, however, do you want your children getting lazy and lethargic because all they do in lessons is sleep? Retain the interest of the children and you can retain the educational benefit for the children. Multimedia can help break a lesson up, allow the child to interact and become part of the lesson and perhaps most importantly, allows the child to enjoy their lessons.

Who Am I? What Do I Stand For?

My name is Daniel Hanly.

I work for a company called C.E.L.T. (centre for excellence in learning and teaching) based in the University of Glamorgan, in South Wales. It is my job, no, my resposibility to ensure that every child in Rhondda Cynon Taff gets a fun and innovative education, as far from Blackboards and Exercise Books as possible.

I aim to bring Multimedia into all classrooms, to allow students to unlock their full potential (to make them WANT to unlock their full potential) and hopefully bring out the best in them.

It is my hope that this Blog will stimulate teachers and learners all over the country to incorporate Multimedia into their lessons and to bring their lessons alive (even the most boring topics).