By Iz Ong SB, iMedia Centre

What is iMC?

The iMedia Centre (iMC) is a media production outfit within Ngee Ann Polytechnic. The centre aims to enhance the learning experience of our students using interactive media technology. iMC consists of a team of lecturers, system analysts, instructional designers, digital media designers, video producers, technical support staff, and managers.

The rationale (and dreams) behind the centre

The InfoComm Development Authority of Singapore stated in their “iN2015 Masterplan” that leveraging on technology in education will…

“…help bring about new and exciting possibilities for inspiring teachers and their motivated learners.”

The increased use of infocomm technologies in Singapore schools has led to increased demand for digital interactive media and a more learner-centred design curriculum. In this new learning environment, learners are required to solve problems, develop creative solutions, construct knowledge and enhance leadership & communication skills.

With this background in mind, Ngee Ann Polytechnic set up the iMedia Centre to provide support to faculty members who may want to utilise new technology to encourage learning.

Learner-centred learning design using Information Technology & Media

Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s direction in teaching and learning is to provide a curriculum that is “learner centred”. Learner-centred learning (LcL) design requires lecturers to craft their lesson plans with elements of:

• collaboration,
• reflection,
• exploration and
• doing

A learner-centred approach engages students and enhances the learning process.

To achieve these aims, iMedia Centre has developed several programs that support the use of information technology & media within the LcL learning environment.

1. Courseware

One of the key initiatives taken by IMedia centre is the development of interactive digital media courseware. This project is a collaborative effort between teaching faculty, iMedia Centre and Teaching & Learning Centre. The aim is to design lessons that incorporate learning via mixed media. These enhancements allow the students to learn outside the classroom while using their notebook computers.

For example, through the use of computer simulations, electrical and electronics students are able to practice their skills & understanding of the topic through a virtual lab environment as shown in the image below.

The Virtual Lab, a supplementary courseware that is used by students to measure voltage and resistance on a virtual breadboard.

The Virtual Lab allows students to prepare in advance for the actual lab experience and this enables more effective use of the limited time in the physical lab.

2. iVid – Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s own YouTube

iVid is a web-based video sharing platform for students and staff of the polytechnic. The objectives behind iVid are to encourage the use and creation of video to enhance learning, to encourage creativity and expression of ideas, and to foster open dialogue and exchange of ideas by encouraging constructive commenting.

This initiative has proven to be popular for students to share their knowledge with one another through the use of multi-media.

Why develop iVid when we already have YouTube? On YouTube it is possible for anyone to upload movies and to comment, which can be quite daunting for our students. iVid, on the other hand, only allows uploads from students and staff of Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Similarly, the only people who can comment on the movies are staff and students of the Polytechnic. Many students have reported that they prefer the security of iVid over YouTube since it provides a ‘safe space’ for collaboration and sharing.

Here is an example video from iVid, made by the students from the School of Business and Accountancy. This video was shortlisted for the International Business Media Clip Competition.

Other videos on iVid include:

• Students from the School of Nursing made videos of their Nursing Skills practicals. They not only learned the required content, but they also learned how to structure a video, and how to shoot and edit the video.
• Engineering Materials is often perceived a dry topic by engineering students. However, by making videos of the nature and composition of various materials used in construction, the students showed increased motivation to learn and to successfully complete the project.

Note: Many of the movies on iVid are restricted to staff and student use only.

3. Learning horticulture via PDAs

iMedia Centre has also been involved in the implementation of learning applications for mobile devices.

We recently developed a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) application for students from the Diploma in Horticulture and Landscape Management (HLM).

This program enables students to explore and interact with the environment by accessing content delivered through their HP iPAQs. The content changes depending on the student’s position in the park. To achieve such an outcome the PDA is triggered by the Global Positioning System (GPS).

The site chosen for this project was Clementi Woods Park (CWP), which was adopted by Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s School of Life Sciences & Chemical Technology in partnership with NParks in December 2007.

Image shows the information available to students on their PDAs as they walk past Hotspot #1 in Clementi Woods Park.

The new learning environment

iMedia Centre has introduced a number of new initiatives that have enabled Ngee Ann Polytechnic to exploit interactive digital media technology in support of a learner-centred learning environment. As mentioned in the iN2015 Masterplan, iMC will continue to “…help bring about new and exciting possibilities for inspiring teachers and their motivated learners.”

Author

Iz Ong Sey Beng, iMedia Centre, Ngee Ann Polytechnic