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INFO:
CVE:
The Panopticon
project was partially funded by Continuing Vocational Education
(CVE) to encourage activities that contribute to the updating
of employment-related skills and knowledge to meet the needs of
employers and employees.
The Panopticon
project received funding through the 1998/99 round of applications
which are particularly aimed at developing training in collaboration
with professional bodies/institutions and meeting the lifetime
learning needs of people at work.
The University
CVE funds are managed by Joan Taylor, Training & External Developments,
Centre for Innovation & External Developments, in the Department
For Business Development.
The following
is an extract from the original (and mildly over ambitious) CVE
bid by the Interactive Media Group.
The Panopticon
Project:
The Panopticon
project aims to establish an online collaborative learning environment
to assist employees of the 'New Media' industries (including;
digital TV, Interactive Media developers, electronic publishing,
etc) enrolled on short courses run by the Interactive Media Group
in the School of Computing.
The project
will deliver a number of OnLine Virtual Reality Environments and
software tools that will allow students to create their own learning
environments. These Virtual Environments will allow staff in the
Interactive Media Group to deliver short courses, and students
to develop practical design skills. This system differs from most
OnLine learning environments in that it allows students to directly
manipulate the multimedia and programming elements that are the
subject of their course. The courses are aimed at highly skilled
design practitioners.
The project
will underpin the delivery of short courses and enable students
to participate in a variety of ways: full time, week release,
day release and/or fully online. The short courses will be validated
as modules on the MSc in Interactive Media Design (temporary name)
being developed by the Interactive Media Group within the School
of Computing. The project will develop an online mechanism for
the delivery of New Media knowledge, both theoretical and practical,
and will offer access to:
an academic
community;
a neutral
ground and extended studio environment for developing project
work;
a collaborative
design environment;
tutoring and monitoring;
the critique of theory and practice;
online assessment;
an appropriate method of study considering the subject of the
programme.
The spread
of courses aims to take advantage of, and further develop, the
body of 'Interactive New Media' knowledge generated through the
BSc (Hons) MediaLab Arts Programme established in 1992. The MSc
will provide members of the New Media community with the opportunity
to enhance critical employment related skills, a vital requirement
in a sector which is so volatile and dynamic.

Objectives
of the project - anticipated outcomes:
The project
will progress in parallel with the development of the MSc in Interactive
Media Design.
Consultation
period with key organisations to further clarify specific industrial
needs. October - November -
Develop MSc modules/short courses by December 1998 in the areas
of:
New Media Design: Web, CD authoring, new media publishing, digital
TV etc
Integrated Digital Media: integrated programming, embedded systems,
intelligent systems, artificial life, etc
Digital Environments: Virtual reality, digital media environments,
etc.
Managing Digital Media: digital media production methods, etc
Psychology of Interaction: psychological and neurobiological theory
and practice underlying interactive media design.
Contemporary 'Cyber' theory: exploring the impact of new technologies
on cultural and social activities
Simultaneously
identify and map out the elements suitable for delivery through
the online mechanism.
Develop a
Product Definition Plan and overall design of the system, which
explores the overall strategy for linking elements of the above
courses to the delivery mechanism. October-January
Develop technical engine for each component of the system. October-July
oProduction and implementation of each element. December-July
Testing Phase 1: Explore the design of the system through close
collaboration with key organiations to ensure the delivery mechanism
is technically suitable. January-March
Testing Phase
2: Explore the design of the system through close collaboration
with key organiations to ensure the content matches technically
capabilities of the system. April-May
Production
of working system for at least one VR environment. May-June
Evaluation
of the system through close collaboration with key organisations.
May-July
Production
of tools to allow students to generate their own environments.
July

Reasons
for the project:
The
Interactive Media Group has had a considerable number of enquiries
to enroll on MSc/MPhil programmes. Some of these have come directly
from companies wishing to develop staff skills. The Interactive
Media Group wishes to take advantage of it's close links with
the New media industry by facilitating these requests. It is clear
that a number of 'Multimedia' MA's and MSc's have been started
in other academic institutions with a lesser pedigree in the field.
The
group's direct experience of the market based on its close relationship
with a number of key organisations is that there is a considerable
need to ensure staff are kept up to date.
The
online delivery of the short courses is the most attractive component
of the proposed programme. The majority of companies are London
based and would be unable to spare staff for prolonged periods.
The Interactive Media Group has already explored the mechanisms
described here through projects such as:
Silicon
Graphics sponsored distance learning experiment, and a number
of academic institutions through the WIRE (Why ISDN Resources
in Education)/MEDIASPACE PROJECT satellite/ISDN transmissions
funded by the European Association of Distance Teaching Universities.
The
Group is also actively involved in a Teaching Company Scheme (Programme
No. 2239) with Insight (Management Training) to develop online
educational/training material.
Although
there is no 'professional body' overseeing the New Media industry,
the Interactive Media Group is well connected with the New Media
community, regionally, nationally and internationally, through
its representation on the boards of professional association and
its relationship through consortia and partnerships. These include:
directorship of SWIM (South West Interactive Media Assoc),DA2
(Digital Arts Development Agency);
Committee membership BCS EMPSG (Electronic and Multimedia Special
Interest Group) and Member of Educational Forum, American Chamber
of Commerce (UK) ;
board of judges at: EUROPRIX98 Multimedia Awards, Austria;
and contribution to BAFTA Interactive multimedia Awards panel;
organising international forums Interstices summer 1998 UK, and
Invencao Thinking the Next Millennium, August 1999 (IITAU - CAiiA/STAR
- ISEA - LEONARDO/ISAST );
as well as exhibiting at Milia, Cannes, and a variety of international
conferences on New Media.
The
project will also be used to enhance the online activities of
PhD students enrolled on the CAiiA-STAR integrated research programme.
This programme has already attracted PhD students from around
the world. The majority are mid-career new media practitioners/educators
wishing to take advantage of the online facilities offered by
the programme, even though they are relatively technically primitive.

Project
methodology;
The
Project seeks to employ one full time Research Fellow to work
as the Creative Production Manager. The project also seeks funds
to buy out members of the Interactive Media Team for relevant
sections of the production cycle.
The
production methods employed by the Group have been developed through
first hand experience of industrial commercial projects and collaborative
research and production projects. They have been articulated through
PhD research and the ongoing Teaching Company Scheme. There are
two specific methods being employed:
a)
the development of academic programmes/short courses; this is
in line with course development methods and will ultimately involve
the University validation procedure. The identification of course
material and content suitable for delivery through online methods
has been an ongoing theme through the development of the BSc (Hons)
MediaLab Arts Programme and other research projects.
b) new media production methods. Exploratory and prototyping methods
of systems design are well recognised and effective method of
systems production where detailed system specification is difficult
to define. Using a clearly defined production pathway, denoting
optimal decision points for change greatly increases the effectiveness
of the project's development. Mok's DADI (Definition, Architecture,
Design, Implementation) process is generally recognised as a suitable
method for creating a framework on which to plan the development
of an interactive media product. Although there is no recognised
Ôbest practice' critical pathway, the Interactive Media Group
has identified a system which is based on EMG's production pathway
and is increasingly being accepted as an appropriate model. It
consists of the following phases: Concept. Research. Design Analysis
and Interactive Treatment feedback through a prototyping R&D phase
generating a general Design Document and an Interactive Script.
Production Stage (incorporating; Programming, Audio, Video, Animation,
Graphics, etc). Alpha Test. Beta Test. Release. In this case the
Testing and Release will be performed online with the project
collaborators. In initial phases of this project have already
been demonstrated and templates constructed.

Departmental
or faculty plans and targets for CVE work:
The
project extends the online activities within the Interactive Media
Group which is already offering online PhD study. TSL funding
has previously been obtained for online support for the BSc (Hons)
MediaLab Arts Programme. The School of Computing also supports
the Groups online activities through the development of a commercial
design and consultancy which is exploring the possibility of moving
to the Tamar Science Park. A member of staff has been employed
by the School with the specific aim of developing industrial liaisons
with the new media industry so that commercial and research collaborations
may be fostered. These vocational activities are fundamental elements
of the Interactive Media Group's rationale. This is an extension
of the Schools 'applied computing ethos'. Other CVE bids originating
from the School of Computing also address vocational training
issues.
The
Faculty of Technology has a history of short courses being delivered
as components of MSc Programmes. Its relationship with regional
technical manufacturing and service industries is a core concern.
Facilitating access to open learning systems for the wider business
community is a key element of MSc development.
The
project also extends the University's interests in developing
Open Learning activities through projects such as RATIO and the
satellite transmissions, etc.

CVE
Development Plan themes are addressed by the Panopticon Project:
1:
CPD. The short courses are targeted at highly skilled individuals
working within a volatile and dynamic work environment.
2:
SMEs. The majority of new media companies are SMEs, especially
those located in the region. The Group's market research also
indicates that several courses would be attractive to architecture
practices wishing to engage in new media. Non conventional forms
of access are essential to companies of this size, many of which
are geographically dispersed.
3:
Technology Transfer. The impact of New Media on organisations,
whether those involved in the generation of content and delivery
mechanisms or those wishing to incorporate it in their business,
is having a significant effect on job security and the skills
necessary for employment.
4:
Flexible Learning. The systems proposed here provide a flexible
and innovative approach to open learning. The mechanisms being
proposed take the current focus on the synchronous and asynchronous
delivery of web and satellite tuition to a new level of intimacy.
The Virtual Reality environments envisioned here also provide
a space and place where students can work collaboratively exploring
practical problems as well as the more theoretical aspects currently
delivered by web based systems.
5:
Marketing. Support and enthusiasm for the project has been obtained
from key regional players in the new media industry. By developing
this innovative project the interactive Media Group will be accessing
the main channels of communication to the region's new media workers.
6:
Analysis and Evaluation. The project aims to work closely with
the collaborating organisation. The analysis of the required skills
and the evaluation of the project outcomes will seek to clarify
the requirements of the new media industry. The project aims to
overcome geographical factors limiting the University's delivery
of training to the new media sector.

Project
be management and quality control mechanisms:
A
production team consisting of the production managers, designers
and editors will be formulated in the initial phases of the project.
This will coincide with the MSc programme management team.
Members
of the collaborating organisations will play a part in the project
team.
Regular
meeting of the project team will be held.
The
production of a PDP (Product Definition Plan) and other design
documentation will allow close monitoring.
The
project team will meet to evaluate the key milestones identified
by the PDP.
The
progress of the project will be made available online to all participants.
Project progression can be monitored along with the various stages
of the prototype development.
Companies
identified as likely clients of the system will be invited to
input to several open production/demonstration meetings.
Regular
weekly and monthly reports, similar to those used by the Teaching
Company Scheme, will be used to document the production cycle.
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