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Review of UNE - NR Courseware Sampler CD-ROM No. 1
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This CD-ROM was a collaborative project that sought to:

* gather together samples of Australian developed courseware from the 
University, TAFE, industry and private sectors.

* Demonstrate delivery of these programs on a hybrid CD-ROM 
(Macintosh/Windows)

* Demonstrate the possibilities of a cross-platform authoring language 
such as Authorware Professional.

The Project was conducted under the direction of
________________________________________
Dr. Allan Ellis
Centre for Work and Training
University of New England-Northern Rivers 
Email:  aellis@elli.une.edu.au
________________________________________

with support provided by the NSW Education and Training Foundation Pty.
Ltd.

Samples of courseware developed using Authorware Professional are provided
from a variety of contributors in the field of computer based training and
education. As such, the CD gives some insight into the state of CAL / CBT
within the tertiary and industry sectors within Australia, using
Authorware.

The CD was reviewed running on a Mac IIvx (8 Mb with 256 colours)  with
built-in CD-ROM drive, running at double speed (295 ms access time).
Running under these conditions, the performance and rate of display of
information caused no problems.

The CD is of interest from a variety of perspectives. 
There is a range of screen  and interface designs to be viewed, some
particularly effective and intuitive. A variety of media are employed by
most samples displayed and it is of interest to note the use of audio as an
overlay on several of the productions. Those developments without audio,
and based mostly on text or graphics, can appear quite barren by contrast.

The quality of some of the graphics varies considerably. Institutions do
not do themselves any favours by using low quality scanned-in images of
their logos in such productions. Some of the colour graphics were of a very
high near photographic standard, while others were poor - not what one
would expect from production houses who widely promote themselves.

Several samples are worthy of note. I  found especially attractive the work
by Edge Technologies in the VEATT sampler. The use of audio, animation and
interaction was most engaging, as well as the screen design being
uncluttered and effective. It was difficult to identify whether one was
looking at video or animation. The effects are most praiseworthy.

The work on Abdominal Radiology by SENDEL will prove of interest and
inspiration to those working in the area of computer based anatomy and
human biology. Excellent use is made of glossary and cross-referenced
indices. The dynamic use of B & W  cross-sectional X Rays is an fine
example of using the media.

The work by UNE-NR on Japanese  Language for Teachers is of personal
interest, as it is in the area of Computer Assisted Language Learning. It
utilises the ability of Authorware to incorporate two-way sound in that the
user can imitate and play back their attempts, given the availability of a
MacRecorder. This is an area that I was working on in 1991 (Australian
Journal for Educational Technology, Vol. 8, No. 1, Winter 1992) in which I
examined the problem of the two-way sound for Authorware. This use of
two-way interactive sound is effective and adds to learner participation.

Graphics produced in a graphics package are used in the UNE sample above. I
felt that perhaps full - colour photographic images may have presented a
better visual  effect. However, memory may still present a problem. What is
the current situation with respect to Authorware and the use of QuickTime
compressed JPEG images? 

Another sampler in interactive language teaching is that on Beginning
Chinese, produced by Murdoch University. The use of animation is worth
examination, although the software was designed to run on a B & W 
nine-inch screen.

The efforts from CALS at the Adelaide College of TAFE are of interest.
Dynamic use is made of animation for demonstration purposes that is
effective and well designed. However, I was disappointed to not be able to
view the one and only video clip that I was aware of on the CD.
Unfortunately, I don't think the clip was packaged with the CD or that the
necessary pathways for finding the clip were given.

The sample from the RATEP programme in Queensland is of interest to those
who have cross-cultural connections. The use of audio here might be
perceived as "bells and whistles" stuff at times. However, I know from
personal contact with some of the Torres Strait end-users that such audio
is of value to them. 

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Copies of the CD-ROM are available from  Dr. Allan Ellis, details given
above.

Material is currently being collected for a second CD-ROM and contributions
are welcomed.

In the second CD, I would suggest perhaps a simple "teach text" read-me
file that contains minimum system requirements. At times, it is not clear
how one can exit from some of the demo software provided, especially with
the menu bar hidden. Indeed, as I recall, one sample from a software house
provided no means of exit!
Simple advice as to quitting all applications first before running the CD
might obviate the possibility of "insufficient memory" messages arising.

If possible, in moving from one sample to another, a blacking out of the
screen would produce a more attractive visual effect, given the variety of
screen sizes towards which the samples were developed.

I have not had the occasion to run the hybrid CD on a Windows platform as
yet. Some of the samples are provided for the Mac platform only, some the
Windows platform only and some for both. I would be interested in seeing a
comparison of software across platforms. I shall report on this as it is
done.

Congratulations must be extended to UNE-NR on their initiative which should
do much to promote further activity in CAL/CBL et al. on the Australian
scene.




Geoff Rehn   g_rehn@csuvax1.murdoch.edu.au
External Studies Unit  
Murdoch University       Western Australia