Dream on: Slow progress in developing digital media infrastructures
Susannah Diamond, Andrew Middleton
Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom
BackgroundRecent discussions have highlighted opportunities offered by using digital media and podcasting to enhance learning, especially where that involves the 'mass amateurisation' of media through academic and student production (Whamond 2008). However, academic enthusiasm and interest can be easily deflated by unreliable systems, and this presents a barrier for academic innovation, where there is a symbiotic relationship between infrastructure development and emerging demand. This research project therefore sought to explore the progress made by UK universities in developing infrastructures to support innovative pedagogies enhanced by digital media.ApproachThe authors used two methods to investigate the progress of developing universities' infrastructures for user-generated media:1. An email survey targeted at Blackboard Users groups and the Podcasting for Pedagogic Purposes (PPP) SIG explored enabling factors within institutions in supporting the use of digital media. Questions focused on particular aspects such as IT networks, equipment availability, institutional drivers, and media literacy.2. A workshop in the style of a focus-group, involving academics, senior management and educational developers was run at a PPP event. Participants were asked to identify weak points in their institutional infrastructure, and a discussion was facilitated focusing on clusters of 'help requests' that emerged.Results of work doneParticipants in the focus group indicated that understanding how to develop our institutional infrastructure and thereby develop rich media-enhanced pedagogy is a complex but highly important challenge for the sector.Early results from the survey indicate a range of issues that represent barriers to the use of digital media in UK universities, but also a selection of technologies, policies and strategies that can contribute to effective infrastructure implementation.ConclusionThis research indicates the distance that UK universities still need to travel before they achieve a mature infrastructure for digital media. The findings also include effective strategies that are worth sharing, and indicate priority areas for action.This paper should prove useful for educational developers and those with responsibility for developing support and technical infrastructure, in informing future decisions and helping UK universities to realise the dream of effective infrastructure for digital media.Whamond, A. 2008. Digital amateurisation and the implications for art research, Paper presented at ACUADS 2008 Conference, Australian Council of University Art and Design Schools, pp9. Available online at: http://www.acuads.com.au/conf2008/papers/whamond.pdf