JISC

Start date: 1 August 2000

End date: 31 January 2003

Funding programme: Learning and Teaching (5/99) programme

Project website: http://www.lifesign.ac.uk/

This project is part of the moving image and sound project cluster in this particular programme. The main focus for projects in this cluster is on the creation and use of moving images and collections for the DNER and learning and teaching.

Background

Feedback from past initiatives relating to the use of video in learning and teaching, notably the BFI/BUFVC/JISC Imagination/Universities Network Pilot project and HEFCE’s Shotlist initiative, demonstrated that unless the collection of visual resources is of sufficient quality and comprehensive in coverage it is unlikely that lecturers will feel inspired to change their teaching habits. Lifesign will compile a collection of resources relevant to practical teaching within the life sciences and achieve the critical mass necessary to impact upon the delivery of the curriculum and effectively evaluate the educational potential of streamed video within a subject discipline.

Aims and Objectives

The overall aim of the project is to evaluate the use of networked moving picture and sound material for learning and teaching in the life sciences. This aim revolves around 3 main areas of activity: the development of a comprehensive set of resources focusing on a particular aspect or aspects of the life sciences; the development of appropriate metadata and the integration of resource discovery and retrieval facilities within a hybrid library system; and the development and implementation of an evaluation methodology for the material and its use in learning and teaching. The specific objectives are to:

• Compile a comprehensive collection of video resources, in association with the relevant Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN) Subject Centres, relevant to the practical teaching of a range of life science disciplines. This will comprise material already in existence and new commissions
• Structure and digitise the catalogue in a format appropriate for networked delivery via Metropolitan Area Networks
• Develop software that enables the full integration of multimedia resources in library catalogues and hybrid library systems
• Index, catalogue and compile the associated metadata for the resources in a format that can be integrated into existing library database systems
• Work with the JISC’s Managing Agent and Advisory Service for Moving Pictures and Sound in order to clear rights for use of all resources identified and develop a licensing framework to facilitate the continued production of related resources from within the HE sector
• Install the digital collection on two Metropolitan Area Networks (SWMAN and LENS) providing local access for up to 18 HEIs
• Evaluate the pedagogical effectiveness of streamed moving images within the life sciences and assess the impact upon current curriculum delivery
• Provide guidelines, supporting material and staff development to the Advisory Centre for Moving Pictures and Sound in order to embed the use of networked moving images within the DNER
• Develop the infrastructure necessary in order to sustain the continued development of this initiative beyond the lifespan of the project

Project design

There are 3 key strands to the project:

• A content development aspect which is using a qualitative approach to elicit feedback from the HE community in assessing the value of existing moving image resources in the life sciences and identifying gaps in coverage. Where materials do not exist Lifesign will coordinate the production of new resources
• A cataloguing strand will create metadata for the resources and, in particular, will explore the integration of Dublin Core and MARC records to allow the seamless searching of all catalogue records in existing library systems
• Evaluation will take place within the partner institutions and those supported by the MANs. The evaluation process will be built upon the conclusions of the TLTP (Teaching and Learning Technology Programme) TILT evaluation and incorporate aspects of pre-programme design and formative, integrative and summative evaluation. The evaluation will address the quality of the video material, its value to individual units and courses and the value of networked delivery via a MAN to the institutions involved

Outcomes

Lifesign will assist the JISC in identifying and developing a collection of digitised video material in the life sciences which will be offered to the UK higher education community and integrated into the DNER. The project will also assist the Managing Agent and Advisory Service for Moving Pictures and Sound to identify issues, problems and solutions associated with the networked delivery of moving images which could then be extended to other disciplines.

The project supports the DNER in adding value to the UK’s learning, teaching and research resources, by providing:

• Cost effective access by Universities to an integrated set of digital resources beyond that which could be generated by individual organisations
• Mechanisms which promote a culture of collaboration and a sharing of resources and know how within the HE sector
• The resources and pedagogical justification for the development of a Metropolitan Area Network infrastructure

Both formative and summative evaluation reports will be included in the annual reviews and final project report and these will be disseminated via the Lifesign Web site. In addition, the project’s dissemination strategy includes: contributions to journal articles, newsletters, workshops and conferences; collaboration with other coordinating groups such as the Managing Agent and Advisory Service for Moving Pictures and Sound, LTSN Bioscience and BUFVC; and integration with national staff development initiatives.