Week 6: Graphics and Multimedia
One of the most obvious differences in the presentation of educational material through multimedia computers and the Internet is the addition of graphics and components such as sound and video. Graphics and animations, whether jpeg, gif, Shockwave or Flash files, add visual interest and educational content, with the added effect of breaking up large chunks of text into readable portions. Sound and motion video, available as embedded sound files or uploaded Real Player or Quicktime files, provide "dual encoding," the addition of another learning style to reinforce visual learning.
When working with graphics, a number of issues arise. In using graphics from different sources, it is important to be aware of copyrighted material, especially on web pages. Permission should be asked for in the use of copyrighted material and notice should be placed on pages. When graphics are produced or scanned or digital photos taken or sound files or video produced, the artist must decide whether their creations should be copyrighted or allowed to be freely reproduced. Resolution of files makes a great difference in the size and quality of the images and sounds. High-resolution art and sound files may be used on CDs, but on web pages, the most important consideration is bandwidth. File compression is possible, but in some formats quality may be lost. Higher-resolution graphics and sound take too long to download and web site visitors will not have the patience to wait. A decision must be made on a balance between resolution, image quality and download times.
Graphics can come in a variety of formats, depending on how they will be used. Graphics can be produced using drawing programs or existing photos can be used directly from digital cameras or scanned and manipulated using Adobe Photoshop-type programs. Sounds can be recorded into wave files, while music can be digitized using mp3 converters. The production of motion video is undergoing rapid change, due to the use of digital video cameras. Digital images can be downloaded directly onto a hard drive using fire wire. The images are combined with sound, music and transitions in programs such as Adobe Premiere, and then recorded to video tape. Equipment ranges from recordable CD drives to digital cameras, scanners, projectors, recorders, and sound mixers.
Focus Questions
- Do you think the addition of graphics to multimedia software and the Internet makes a difference in interest and value?
- What are some graphics formats? Sound formats?
- What are some industry-standard software programs used in the production of graphics, sound and video?
- What is some readily available equipment that might be useful in your classroom?
- How might you use multimedia equipment and software in your classroom?
Graphics
Gifs
Sound
Drawing Programs and Lessons
Multimedia Equipment
Assignment: Produce an original graphic, digital image, scanned image, or modify a digital image; or produce an original sound file or convert one to a digitized sound file. Store on floppy disk or CDR disk. Be aware of file size and resolution.
