1. Customising images to meet individual needs Tony Rest University of Southampton, UK a.j.rest@soton.ac.uk http://www.soton.ac.uk/~ajrchem

2. Outline Background Finding out about Images Obtaining Images Customising Images Comments: Customising Images Needs for the Future Further Information, e.g. WWW Addresses Acknowledgements

3. Background : General Possibilities = Boundless –lectures, labs, seminars, self-paced learning, distance learning, stimulating interest Problems = Many but not Insurmountable –obtaining visual images –using/customising resources –delivering materials –TIME and EXPERTISE

4. Background : “Recorded” Images Advantages –can be seen many times by students in a wide variety of contexts; –wide variety of material; –value can be added to images via interactivity Disadvantages –“remote” from students; –can be regarded as “entertainment” –may need customising to match desired contexts

5. Finding out about Images Internet –wide range of possibilities; –often difficult to find specific information; –variable picture quality/long download times Databases (National/International) –concentrated information; –easily searchable; –regularly updated, e.g “Chemistry Images” on www site of Royal Society of Chemistry

6. Obtaining Images Making them “In-House” –can be “inexpensive” –can be designed to exact course content needs –often duplicate material already made elsewhere –NO COPYRIGHT PROBLEMS Importing them from “Out-of-House” –can be higher quality –often generic rather than specific –reduces “re-inventing existing wheels” –COPYRIGHT/RIGHTS PROBLEMS

7. Customising Images: Why? few resources ever exactly meet the desired need different levels of explanation may be required adaptation for different user groups may be required, e.g. distance learning, disadvantaged students translation into/from other languages enormous benefits from addition of interactivity

8. Customising Images: How? capture of images (stills, animations, VHS tapes, laser discs, CD ROMs, DVDs; video and audio) and compression (AVI, MPEG 1, MPEG 2) mix images with text and graphics (course management software) compilation of final product delivery via CD ROM, DVD, Networking and WWW

9. Customising Images: Notes PCs have standard video and sound cards images can be digitised using appropriate specifications course management software is readily available, e.g. “Toolbook”, “Macromedia Director”, “Flash” structured programming exists for “beginners” software “shells” can be designed for other languages products can be adapted for other/future platforms

10. Customising Images: Example “Basic Laboratory Chemistry” - series of 19 laser video discs and VHS tapes (each 30 min duration with rapid selection of video segments via bar codes (laser discs); Chemistry Video Consortium (UK); 1995/96) “Practical Laboratory Chemistry” – series of 19 CD ROMs (each containing 30 min video, subtitles, and a quiz; CVC; 1999) “Practical Chemistry for Schools and Colleges” – a series of 2 CD ROMs (each containing 30 min video, a glossary, scrolling text, and a quiz; CVC and Royal Society of Chemistry; 2000)

11. Customising Images: Example continued “Physical Chemistry Experiments” – series of 4 CD ROMs (each comprising background theory, worked examples, a glossary, video, scrolling text, actual sets of experimental data, and a quiz; CVC and Educational Techniques Group Trust (RSC); 2001) “Le bon geste practique en Chimie” – a series of 19 dual language (French/English) CD ROMS adapted from “Practical Laboratory Chemistry” (each comprising video, scrolling text, dual commentary and text options, a glossary, and a quiz; CVC and Centre de Developpment Informatique Enseignment Chemie (CDIEC, Nice; 2002) “Practical Laboratory Chemistry for Students with Learning Difficulties” – a pilot CD ROM (30 min video, scrolling text, text print out, variable font and colour options, a quiz, and key stroke operation option ; CVC unpublished work)

12. Comments: Customising Images Images are costly and copyright matters must be addressed cost savings can be achieved through re-cycling materials “re-inventing wheels” can be minimised ready availability of PCs in institutions and at home means that the time is right for expansion in this type of teaching learning and training considerable scope for exchange of technical experience, skills and resources international goodwill exists for collaborative projects

13. Needs for the Future Better “Grassroots” awareness of resources and technology - National Centres providing archiving and facilities to exchange images, information and expertise, e.g. Learning and Teaching Support Network Centre for Astronomy, Chemistry and Physics (Hull, UK) and CDIEC (Nice, France) International Cooperation and Collaboration - Network of National Centres, e.g. European Chemistry Thematic Network (Lyon, France) Support from national bodies – chemical societies, government agencies, e.g. Royal Society of Chemistry, French Chemical Society, American Chemical Society, National Science Foundation Sponsorship from national and international agencies and chemical companies, e.g. European Commission, ICI

14. Further Information Chemistry Video Consortium Project (http://www.soton.ac.uk/~chemweb/cvc/) “Chemistry Images” Database (http://www.rsc.org/is/cvc/chem_img.htm) CD ROMs for “Practical Laboratory Chemistry” and “Practical Chemistry for Schools and Colleges” (http://www.emf-v.com) SOCRATES Open and Distance Learning Project “Multimedia Resources for Chemistry” (http://mrc.chem.tue.nl) Learning and Teaching Support Nretwork Centre for Astronomy, Chemistry and Physics (http://physsci.ltsn.ac.uk) Centre de Devoppment Informatique Ensignment Chimie (http://www.unice.fr/cdiec/) European Chemistry Thematic Network (http://www.ectn.net)

15. Acknowledgements UK Higher Education Funding Councils (Teaching and Learning Technology Programme) for funding the CVC Project Colleagues who worked on the CVC “Basic Laboratory Chemistry” videos (33 authors from 22 universities + professional director and camera/editing/production staff) Don Brattan and Oliver Jevons who have worked up the CVC material to produce CD ROM packages Colleagues in Europe who contributed to the SOCRATES Project CVC Sponsors: Royal Society of Chemistry and ICI