The Production of High-Quality Video for E-Learning

As video capture, editing and transmission capabilities become more accessible, video is increasingly being considered when developing e-learning content. However, the skills required for video production are not commonly part of many e-learning developers backgrounds. This paper presents the experiences of academics from the spatial information sciences when developing high quality video content for an on-line e-learning module in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Video comprises one element of the module and is designed to, as far as possible, address the lack of ‘hands-on’ experience of GNSS equipment and observing procedures. The video element of the module was used by a cohort of post-graduate students at the Technological University of Dublin and the feedback was favourable. While acknowledging its advantages, the authors conclude that the cost, time and complexity of producing high-quality video should not be underestimated. Also, they note that keeping multimedia-rich courses current, particularly in an area of rapid technological change, is a challenge. E-learning course developers considering using video should carry-out both a pedagogical- and a cost-benefit analysis to establish if the inclusion of video is worthwhile. The most important component in producing an active learning experience continues to be the quality of the instructional design and content, not the media itself.