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Session 2793

Designing a Self-Instructed, Project-Based Multimedia Course in Engineering Education Hayder A. Rasheed, Slobodanka Nestorovic, Sarra Elhassan Bradley University

Abstract: Multimedia applications are finding their way into every engineering discipline as powerful tools to facilitate more effective learning via visualization and multi- dimensional comprehension. However, the high cost to develop such applications is recognized. A proposed economical solution to this issue is to utilize the senior or master’s level engineering student projects in this endeavor. This solution requires the interested institutions or faculty to offer a course in multimedia production to provide the necessary collective training at no cost. This works both ways as it offers the students with valuable technological edge. The proposed course, in its major part, is project-based with a well-defined project theme for each offering. To optimize time, quality and resources of the course delivery, the authors developed a multimedia package to auto- instruct the multimedia skills in a structured curricular fashion. This application, Multimedia Auto-Instructor, has been preliminarily tested in conjunction with a formal multimedia class setting. The application is anticipated to be available on a CD-ROM and on line for future course offerings.

Introduction: As we enter the new millenium, engineering education is facing challenges that ought to be met. More creative and effective teaching styles and tools need to be developed to meet the increasing demands on covering more of the ever-expanding domain of engineering knowledge and applications. The revolution in computer capabilities, affordability, compatibility and interconnectivity is paving the road for such an anticipated reform. One of the promising enabling tools is the development and integration of innovative ideas, different digital media and computer applications into seamless packages through hypermedia. Abbanat and Honchel1 address the high cost involved in developing multimedia educational tools versus their small market. They suggest creating markets for such products through repackaging. The authors propose the better alternative of producing less expensive products to keep focus on development rather than business. It would appear to the reader that the appropriate infrastructure in this development process is the upper level undergraduate and Master’s project work. For the sake of efficiency and quality of production, the training of senior and master’s students in multimedia skills prior to or during engagement in their 3 credit hour project work is a necessity. Schools with interest in such educational reform, or in its increasing grant dollars, are finding an obvious need to start introducing multimedia authoring courses into their curriculum2. In this context, multimedia course training is self- sufficient, since it pays-off through tuition rather than grants, and self- productive, as it may utilize student projects during the same course to develop various application modules.

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Nestorovic, S., & Elhassan, S., & Rasheed, H. A. (2000, June), Designing A Self Instructed, Project Based Multimedia Course In Engineering Education Paper presented at 2000 Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. 10.18260/1-2--8277