Services

As an advance guard for new educational technology, we're on the lookout for new methods of delivering your curriculum to your learners and stakeholders. We continuously examine and evaluate current technologies in an effort to make them more useful and easier to incorporate. From something as simple as dressing up your PowerPoint with audio and video instead of the same old text and pictures, to creative DVD menu screens and interactive DVD and web-based learning activities.

Anybody can slap together a DVD or web site these days, but the difference in working with us is that we know and understand the technology that serves your learners. We know what makes it effective, what its limitations are, and how learners learn when using it. We provide professional instructional design to all the learning tools we produce. The best curriculum in the world will be less effective if not presented to your learners sensibly and effectively To that end we work with you from initial meeting to project completion to ensure that your curriculum is transitioned to the web or disk in ways that your learners can easily digest and learn from.

In a sense, we're like a mega-super market (without the long checkout lines). Why do we say that? Because the Distance Education/Digital Media Unit is a one-stop shop for all your web to disk-based learning technologies. From instructional design and video production, to graphic design, interactive menu screens, duplication and distribution. We either do it within our own walls with our own staff or sub-contract out saving you time, hassle and money.

We understand that your learners learn in different ways. As such we understand that your needs as an educator are complex and ever evolving. Our staff engages in professional development opportunities that enable us to provide leadership and consultation to you that meets or exceeds the educational challenges that you will bring us tomorrow.

Learning Tools and Samples

Note: Since the viewing of video on the web is dependent on your connection speed, we're happy to provide you with digital quality samples of our products upon request.

DVD

DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disc, which means nothing to you and nothing to me either. DVDs enable you to make your programming come alive via digital video. Show your learners what your program is about and how it can help them, with professionally shot video on a digital based media. DVDs are perfect if your programming has multiple components, teaching objectives or outcomes and you want to give your learners the flexibility to access the program components they need when they need them without having to fast forward through other program components and hours of videotape. If your audience has access to computers with a DVD drive, then this is the right choice for you.

Sample DVD Menu

CD

Similar to a DVD, a CD (Compact Disc) can consist of video and/or audio and is a good choice if your learners will access your programming on a computer with a CD drive. A CD can hold only about one seventh the material a DVD can, so it works best with audio clips, short video clips and print materials.

Streaming Audio

If you have a web site and you want to give your learners access to recorded events such as WisLine meetings or audio clips of important content, streaming audio is the right technology for you.

Listen to a sample streaming audio clip

Streaming Video

Same as streaming audio, but adding a video dimension to your web site. The DE/DMU supports both high speed and low speed (dial up) connections. Good web-based instructional design dictates shorter is better than longer when it comes to streaming video. We recommend streaming video clips no longer than 3-5 minutes in length of your audience will connect primarily via a dial-up connection.

View a sample dial-up streaming video clip

View a sample high bandwidth streaming video clip

PowerPoint with Embedded Audio and/or Video

Maximize the way you use Microsoft PowerPoint. Why settle for nothing but text and picture graphics when you can use audio and/or video to get the most out of your presentation. Don't tell your audience members about a great quote you got from a program participant, let them see and hear it themselves.

Satellite Videoconferencing/WisSat Satellite Downlink System

If you'd like to reach a large audience from all over the state, country or world at the same time, then satellite video conferencing with its two-way audio and one-way video abilities is a good choice.

For information on Wisconsin's WisSat viewing facilities, visit http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wissat.cfm .

Polycom EX Speakerphone Support

We provide support for Polycom EX Speaker phones purchased by Cooperative Extension for WISLINE and WISLINE Web programs.