The Creation and Refinement of a Sustainable Multimedia Process in a Higher Education Environment

Simply put, multimedia is software (Strauss, 1997). However, unlike traditional software, multimedia is expected to engage the senses. It combines hardware, software, and graphic technologies to produce a multisensory information environment. Unlike more straightforward, more traditional software projects (e.g. the development of a database application) multimedia projects blend creativity and technology (McDaniel, 1996).To that end, a specialized team of media technology and instructional professionals at UNC-Chapel Hill (1) developed and deployed a successful media production process for instructional, online products (2) adapted the initial production model for other instructional multimedia projects, (3) gathered student data on the effectiveness of the online learning experience, and (4) incorporated quality assurance (QA) activities to routinely optimize the production process.This paper is intended to provide a blueprint for the creation of a creative production team based in a higher education setting.