Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Distance Education/Digital Media (DE/DM) Unit and with whom is it affiliated?

A: The DE/DM Unit is a group of professionals with varied expertise in instructional design, video and digital media production, and satellite video conference. The DE/DM Unit is one of several Madison-based Cooperative Extension Program Support units. Our services are available to everyone within CE.

Q: What resources and products are available to me?

A: The DE/DM Unit staff consists of an instructional designer, video producers, a digital media specialist and graphic designer, and a satellite videoconference technician. Our staff works closely with you to develop web-based tools such as streaming audio/video, as well as DVDs, CDs, PowerPoint presentations with embedded video and/or audio, and satellite video programs. We can also guide you to other available distance education technologies, such as WisLine Web, that are offered by our colleagues in Madison and throughout the state.

Q: How does the DE/DM Unit support my programming?

A: The DE/DM Unit possesses the knowledge and expertise to supplement your face-to-face programming with web-based and/or digital learning tools that can make your programming more accessible to the people you program for.

Q: How can the DE/DM Unit make my programming more accessible?

A: By working closely with you to transfer all or parts of your programming curriculum to a web-based learning interface or digital learning tools that can be accessed by your clients anytime, anywhere and any place they need it.

Q: Are the web-based and digital-based learning tools that the DE/DM Unit develops designed to replace my face-to-face programming?

A: Absolutely not! The DE/DM Unit understands that your face-to-face programming is irreplaceable. Our mission is simply to take your curriculum and make it available to your clients any time they need it. Our web-based and digital-based learning products are not intended as a replacement for your face-to-face programming, only a supplement.

Q: Today's technology and software makes it easier for me to produce my own DVDs and CDs. Why shouldn't I just produce these myself?

A: CE educators have responsibilities and expectations to meet. Your clients and stakeholders expect you to develop programming that meets the needs of your community. Developing web-based and digital-based learning products is a time intensive process. Do your clients and stakeholders expect you to substitute your curriculum planning for video and DVD production when a staff of professionals with the expertise and charge to develop these tools is available to you?

Q: I'm not based in Madison and there are events and people in my community that I would like to videotape. Does your unit travel?

A: Absolutely! Our professional video producers travel wherever they need to meet the requirements of the project.

Q: I'd like to get web- or digital-based learning products into the hands of my community members as soon as possible. How long does it take to get on the DE/DM Unit calendar and take a project from inception to completion?

A: The DE/DM Unit is sensitive to your schedule and the need to deliver a professional product to you and your clients in a timely fashion. A number of factors, including the size of the project, degree of complexity, number of activities and/or people to videotape, and response time to project review points, all figure the length of time it will take us to complete the project. If time is of the essence, we can suggest learning tools and technologies that offer you the immediacy needed.

Q: Programming dollars are in short supply. Does this fact prohibit me from calling on the services and expertise of the DE/DM Unit?

A: Not at all. Our unit typically charges back only for "out of pocket" expenses such as video tapes used in production, travel and fleet car rental. Occasionally the unit adds a $65/hour charge for videotape editing to cover the wear and tear of the professional equipment we use, but only when grants or other funding dollars are available to cover these costs.