cob elearning factory: a brief history what we do, what we don't do, content types created
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CoB eLearning Factory: A brief history what we do, what we don't do, content types created Martin Nutbeam, City of Bristol CollegeTRANSCRIPT
City of Bristol College Video Server
In the beginning there was VHS!
Existing Off Air Recording Twin Deck VHS recorder stolen during a break in during 2007.
I volunteered to look into replacing with digital system.
Service regularly used so replacement needed.
The ‘Shonky’ Years
Limited budget – USB TV card & spare ‘office’ desktop.
Biggest expense was getting TV aerial installed.
Essentially held together with sticky tape and blutac.
USB TV card proved to be unreliable.
Everything stored on DVD in LRCs.
At last! A (Shonky) Video Server.
Recording requests increased.
Office desktop not up to recording/editing video/burning DVDs – replaced with better spec device with twin tuner TV card. More Freeview channels.
Open Source/Freeware used for recording/processing.
Sony Vegas used for editing.
ICT created limited video server to store videos and serve up within College.
Videos saved as .wmv for server & backed up as mpeg2 (with eye on future).
Still lots of requests for DVDs.
“I’ve got some videos, can I put them on the server?”
As staff started to think about using digital video we started getting requests to add their own content. Some editing.
Many formats = many headaches. Proprietary codecs especially!
Open source software solved issues but steep learning curve.• VirtualDub• Gspot Codec Information Appliance• ProjectX• Avidemux
A lot asked for DVDs ‘for back up’.
Helix Media Library v1
2010 LRCs now in new faculty – eLearning & Innovation. I’m now an eLearning Developer. ‘Shonky’ system starting to creak and groan.
Late 2011 - After lengthy tender process we install Helix Media Library server with OneLan OmniServer recording most Freeview channels.
Key channels set for two week rolling archive for retrospective requests.
Accessible from home.
Obvious improvement but bugs! Linking to videos didn’t work. Secure login cause UI issues. Most bugs fixed or workarounds used.
Embed code and ERA+
Manually transferring existing mpeg2 backups long process.
Launched Jan 2012.
Helix Media Library v2
Upgraded to HML v 2 late 2012. Carousel feature working! Usage up.
Mobile device access. Some issues.
More bugs! Linking broken again! Streaming responded quickly with workaround within 24 hours. Search erratic.
HML Dashboard not great for stats – Sawmill installed on server.
Streaming support is excellent. Annual event showcasing development roadmap. Regular webinars when new versions due.
Blackboard Building Block. More streamlined than embedding.
No need to encode in Real format anymore.
Where we are now
LRC Staff running day to day, cataloguing etc.
Just upgraded test server to HML v2.5• Refreshed cleaner design.• Search bug fixed.• Improved Mobile Device access.• Subcategories.• Better Dashboard stats.
Hoping to roll out over summer 2013.
Camtasia Relay – can publish directly from client.
Where we are now
Video Content60% TV Recordings
25% College/Staff Created
15% Bought in
Over 1700 video (and some audio) resources stored.
And finally!
No burning DVDs!
