Introduction to video in learning & teaching

The ability of film and video to provide unique insight has been recognised since the beginnings of film itself. Film pioneer Eadweard Muybridge developed animations from series of photographs of moving objects to investigate and illustrate animal gaits. These materials remain a useful teaching resource even today.

An animated series of photographs by Eadweard Muybridge used to study gait

Race horse animated photograph sequence

Famously from its initiation in the early 1970s the Open Unversity successfully used television to deliver degree course materials to distance students. The advent of the domestic video player and recorder allowed greater viewing flexibility and video materials to be created without delivery via the television schedule.

The development and availability of personal computers and CD-ROMs allowed video to be delivered and controlled on a computer, again increasing flexibility and opening up possibilities for more complex interactivity and integration with related materials.

Example history video from the Open University

Now in the Internet age, video can be integrated into web pages and delivered to a global audience via increasingly available broadband.

Next -review of recent developments in video & the Internet