PLA MULTIMEDIA PROJECT Selia Karsten AUGUST 1993 1. RESEARCH BY READING AND INTERVIEWS: (A) PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM From an overview of the PLA portfolio development course materials I have narrowed the resource materials to the following workbooks: PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT INDEPENDENT STUDY PACKAGE - Roberta Burke Mohawk College PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT: THE PORTFOLIO - Marthe Sansregret PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT FOR ASSESSMENT OF PRIOR LEARNING - Ohio University EARNING COLLEGE CREDIT FOR PRIOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING - Vermont State Colleges I have concluded that the best focus for the software program is the enhancement of the process, translating experience into learning outcomes. This process is consistently referred to as the "most difficult" aspect of the process. In brief, the distance learning course will be driven by the workbook text. The video will motivate learners and show learners involved in the process. The software program will assist the learner in understanding how to express learning outcomes effectively. The idea is to alter the perception that this is the "most difficult" to the idea that this is the "most rewarding" aspect of the process. It is intended that this will be very user friendly (see Live and Learn requirements attached) (B) DISTANCE LEARNING - EDUCATIONAL VIDEO FORMAT I have studied the treatment for the TV Ontario series as a basis for script development. My assignment from producer Fraser Steele was to come up with a title for the series and detailed characters (four) who would incoporate traits of the widely divergent target audience. It was decided that I would work closely with the assigned writer Lynn Harrison and continue as consultant to the project throughout production with the company selected to execute the series. The method selected for presenting this series is docudrama. Lynn Harrison was chosen for her expertise in this area. page 2 - August 1993 (C) SOFTWARE DESIGN FOR COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING I have had an opportunity to read and outline the text, "EXPLORING REQUIREMENTS; QUALITY BEFORE DESIGN" by Donald C. Cause & Gerald M. Weinberg. Using this outline I have explored the requirements for the software program. (see attached) I also studied GRAPHIC DESIGN PROCESSES - Kenneth J. Heebert. I continue to read and refer to the manuals which accompany the software tools being used to create this program as well as to the computer manuals for both the Amiga 3000 and the Amiga 4000. 2. DEVELOP WORKING RELATIONSHIPS (A) WITH SENECA AND MOHAWK COLLEGES I have had meetings with Access Director, Carol Henry to discuss my progress and to brainstorm appropriate characters for the TVO series. On August 13, I met with Marilyn Welsh, Lynda Jones and Carol Henry to discuss issues related to the project. Marilyn and Lynda agreed to help me with arrangements to get the 4000 to Commodore for software installation. It is expected that I will be moving into an office now occupied by Lynda in the Centre for Teaching and Learning. This will be in effect as soon as Lynda has moved to the new Centre for Educational Effectiveness. We also discussed setting a critical path, deadlines for the project. I agreed that the storyboard would be ready in December. I expect to begin programming January 1994 through March leaving April and May for testing and revision. The compression and packaging would be done in June. We discussed everyone's role in the project. A meeting was suggested for September to include Roberta Burke from Mohawk and TV Ontario principals. Marilyn contacted CED to inquire about courses for me in Amiga Multimedia starting in October. If possible, Lynda and Rosemary Liu will also attend these classes. I stayed in phone contact with all members of this team throughout this transition period as the move to the new Access and CEE areas was being completed. Marilyn and Lynda were extremely helpful in getting the Amiga 4000 to Commodore for the installation of the software. I attended the Portfolio Development course orientation at Seneca on August 24th. I had discussions with facilitators Barb White and Colleen Carruthers about the course and their concerns. I also was given an opportunity to interview the four potential students as to their interests and backgrounds. page 3 - August 1993 (B) WITH TV ONTARIO DISTANCE LEARNING DIVISION I was in contact with Fraser Steele, producer, concerning the assignment of the writer. I completed my assignment of naming the series and creating the characters. (see attached) In a meeting with writer, Lynn Harrison, ideas for the script were discussed in detail and I gave her all of my research on characters, ikons which relate the characters to the software program and a copy of the fairy tale "The Bremen Town Musicians" (suggested as a plot device - see attached). I was introduced to the Director of Distance Learning, Paul Avon, on one of my visits to TVO. Lynn, Fraser and I had frequent telephone contact regarding progress of the outline for the series being written by Lynn. (C) WITH COMMODORE AMIGA During August I visited a number of Amiga dealers and became satisfied that I had made a good choice in selecting Amsoft. I enrolled in two evening classes there with teacher, Paul McCoy. I had frequent phone contact with the dealer, Willy Tam, regarding the status of the ordered software and periferals. On August 19, Marilyn arranged pickup of the order (the authoring package CAN-DO not yet available and the cable for the Syquest to come next week) at Amsoft. She transported the computer to Commodore. Lynda and I met with Noreen Lenahan who introduced us to Steven Vetzel. Lynda and I observed as Steven explained his installation of the software - 3 hours. Lynda and I returned the computer to Seneca. I wrote to Noreen (cc President Doug MacGregor) thanking her and commending Steven for his work on the installation. From August 30 - September 3, I attended Artfax, Scarborough Board's adult art camp. The class was 9 - 4 daily with instructor Liz Wilde. I also met Teri Chan, Head-Visual Arts at Rosedale Heights Secondary who invited me to visit her Amiga lab. She is just completing a study guide to computer graphics and multimedia for Toronto Board. I was given the names of other instructors to contact - Jim Zeigler at Wexford Collegiate and Robin who teaches computer animation at Centennial Warden Woods. Instructor Liz Wilde was very interested in the project and has offered to be a continuing resource. My work during the course concentrated on drawings, animations and the combining of digital images with graphic manipulations. I got a lot of practice in Deluxe Paint IV with the various menu options. I used DCTV for converting images. I was introduced to Digipaint 3 paint package. page 4 - August 1993 (D) WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES I had two half day sessions with Daryl Mahabir, learning how to install programs on the 3000, troubleshooting problem areas, managing files. He continues to be a valuable support on a volunteer basis. I joined Amiga support group ABUG (519 Church St. 3rd Sunday each month). The August session concerned music construction packages and demos were given in several packages including Deluxe Music. I learned tips for workbench management. It was recommended that I get a modem in order to access Amiga bullitin boards. I am also a member of another Amiga group TPUG which starts meeting again in the fall. Through Lynda Jones I visited George D. Clarke and Associates and saw a demonstration of a Mac work station. I registered for the MacWorld Exposition in September. I feel it is very important to keep abreast of multimedia work being done in other platforms. I have networked a number of possible contacts. Ruth Marks, Librarian in charge of purchasing computer programs at OISE, has referred me to Joseph Koenig, International Cinemedia. He is involved in video and computer projects related to life skills. She also suggested the Career Occupation Information Centre and the Career Research and Advisory Centre for additional information. Valda Svede, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College librarian has made available a computer printout of all articles related to PLA on the library's network (117 entries) She has also referred me to the McMaster University Health Sciences Library which has an audio-visual department specializing in modular software, problem-based, individualized instruction. She also suggested the University of Toronto Medical School for problem-based learning packages accessed through the Science and Medical Library. She referred me to Aden Staring, AV Technician at CMCC. He is very familiar with instructional packages, computer support and bulletin boards. In my MultiMedia classes at Amsoft, teacher Paul McCoy suggested that I check out the Amiga-created interactive kiosks at K Mart, CBC Headquarters and Aikenheads. He also referred me to Sinclair Video Graphics where such programs are created. I made contact with Metro Toronto Police Sargeant Michael Street who was in charge of the new three interactive computer programs displayed at the CNE. Those programs will be made available in the community in the near future. page 5 - August 1993 3. BECOME FAMILIAR WITH DELIVERY MEDIA AND METHODOLOGY (A) ESTABLISHING A WORK STATION AT SENECA AND AT HOME At Seneca, office space was not avaiable during the month of August. The 4000 and 3000 were both installed with the following programs: Deluxe Paint IV (3 disks) #357678EA053842 (manual) Amigavision Professional (5 disks) #370194(-8)-01 (manual) Pagestream v.2.22.(8 disks) #528605 (manual) AmigaPlusPack, HotLinks v1.1, PageLiner v 1.1.2 Quarterback (2 disks) #504.31298, #200.12034 (2 manuals) Deluxe Music Construction Set (1 disk) #119702 (manual) Art Department Professional 2.3.0 (4 disks) #54410787 (manual) DSS8+ (2 disks) #AAW0001560 (manual) cables needed DCTV (4 disks) #DC205490562 (manual) SCALA upgrade 210. (1 disk)(pamphlet) this program updates my own SCALA 200 which came with 8 disks and a manual and a dongle Note, the Syquest has not yet been installed - also CAN-DO is in a version change and still unavailable. The DCTV and Music packages will both be used in home work station in order to have appropriate stereo and video camera equipment required. I have registered these programs by completing enclosed cards and mailing them to the manufacturers. For my home work station I have acquired a Suprafax Modem v.32bis,14,400 bps. This will allow me to access the bulletin boards for additional support. I also now have a Data Switch with four parallel ports to accomodate the music and DCTV programs. As I am still paying off the upgrade to my computer system, I am as yet not able to afford a multisynch monitor for the home work station. (B) BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH HOME STUDIES COURSE PACKAGES AT TVO I continue to view the home learning programs offered by TV Ontario in order to become better acquainted wih the variety of approaches and formats for engaging viewers. Programs viewed this month include: SUCCESSFUL HOME VIDEO, EATING WELL2, MEDITERRANEAN COOKERY, FOUNDATIONS OF TAOIST TAI CHI, HOW DO YOU DO?, ESPANA VIVA, BITS AND BYTES 2, PUTTING ON THE ARTS page 6 - August 1993 (C) LEARNING GRAPHICS AND AUTHORING TOOLS ON AMIGA PLATFORM Much of my time has been spent getting more familiar with creating graphics. Until installation of Deluxe Paint IV, I continued with Deluxe Paint III. I worked on the tutorials which were presented in Scala 200. I discovered a few bugs and I have been advised that these bugs have been cleared up in the upgrade version 210. I have been working on the creation of 4 icon characters for the LIVE AND LEARN program. (see attached) (D) EXPERIENCING A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE PROGRAMS This month I have visited the ROM and AGO in search of computer assisted learning. The ROM has a good instructional video on Hieroglyphics but little interactivity required. Better is the Hypercard created program in the Group of Seven Exhibition at AGO. Users can touch screen their way to many levels of exploration about these painters. A very friendly, non-judgemental program in black and white. At the CNE I examined the IBM Information program. A touchscreen package with several layers of information, colourful, using voice-over to reinforce the learning. Stock music. Serves the purpose. At the Metro Toronto Police I found three newly released programs done in Hyperbook. Though there were problems - programs kept jumping back into programming mode - I was able to run through each one. One covered Personal Safety, one was Bicycle Safety and one was on Drugs and Alcohol. All three used the same format. 2-D graphics (clip board style), bright colours, no sound, tutorial with 10 part quiz. SUMMARY As projected, August was a month of continued research and exploration . I am pleased with the creation of the characters and icons and the plot device related to the fairytale. I can see my skills developing as I spend more and more hours at the computer, learning new programs. I believe I have established good working relationships in all areas touched by my work. DOCUMENTS ATTACHED: Character profiles for TVO "Live and Learn" Bremen Town Musicians Icon profiles for use in software program EXPLORING REQUIREMENTS -outline Requirements for "Live and Learn" software program