Media Conversion Project Update

Video technology has changed. That’s hardly a surprise, but when digital formats superseded VHS it also became apparent that VHS playback equipment would disappear from our classrooms. In February 2007, a Learning Technology Services survey showed that 75% of respondents (n= 257 or roughly half the faculty) use VHS tapes in their teaching, 65% indicated that they use them in classrooms and/or labs “most” or “some” class periods, and 47% indicated the loss of VHS Players will have a “significant impact” on their teaching. These responses raised many issues.

• What does an instructor do when a VHS tape critical to their teaching can no longer be played in the classroom?

• What is UWEC’s institutional obligation to convert instructional VHS tapes to a digital format?

• What role does copyright and fair use guidelines play in the decision to convert instructional VHS tapes to a digital format?

In late 2007, LTS began a proactive effort to determine the scope of this issue and determine solutions. All academic departments were asked to provide information about the VHS materials they considered to be critical to the department’s instructional mission. When it comes to conversion of media from VHS to a digital format, fair use obligates UWEC to purchase digital versions if they exist at a reasonable cost. If a digital version cannot be purchased, UWEC is then allowed to convert the existing VHS tape to a digital format mechanically.

By mid-February 2008, the information supplied by departments allowed LTS to estimate the scope of the project and identify funding for the conversion of materials. It was determined that nearly 50% of the critical tapes could be replaced by purchasing digital versions. Through late spring and summer, replacement materials were purchased and will be delivered to departments during the fall 2008 semester.

The next phase of the media conversion project is to digitize the existing tapes that have been identified as critical to instruction. This phase is time consuming, involving gathering the actual tapes to be converted, digitizing the content in real time, transferring to DVD, labeling, and documenting. Janet Nelson has been charged with creating the 1:1 digital DVD copies, while media conversion requiring additional processes such as editing and authoring will be handled by Don Schleicher, LTS Video and Distance Education.

LTS is working on the media conversion in the order that information was provided by the departments. If you have questions about this process, contact Janet Nelson ( nelsonjm@uwec.edu ; 36-3113)