Multimedia projects help community organisations

An interactive DVD has been developed by Southern Cross University students as an educational and promotional tool for the Glenreagh Mountain Railway, west of Coffs Harbour.

The project is one of a number of multimedia projects completed for non-profit community organisations by Southern Cross University multimedia students.

As part of their assessment, third-year students are required to work with an organisation to produce a promotional DVD. The projects completed at the end of 2006 included a Lord Howe Island Lagoon educational CD, Jumpstart Art and the Glenreagh Mountain Railway (GMR).

Ms Leone Woodcock, lecturer in the School of Commerce and Management, said the projects allowed non-profit organisations to benefit from the newly acquired experience of the computing students.

“The advantage for the students is that they get to experience a real-life project situation,” Ms Woodcock said.

Trevor Carrick, who worked on the GMR project with Terry Simpson, Steven Preddey and Matthew McMahon, said the DVD they had produced would be used for educational and promotional purposes.

“In order to strengthen links with the community, Glenreagh Mountain Railway, in collaboration with a team of multimedia students from Southern Cross University have produced an exciting interactive educational DVD,” Trevor said.

“The DVD will be made available to schools and other community groups to raise awareness of the GMR’s activities and to help preserve Australia's railway heritage.”

Trevor said as well as contributing to this worthwhile community organisation, the project provided great industry and project management experience for the students involved.

The GMR DVD, which features an authentic 1930s carriage and an animated character as the host, includes: an historical overview of the development of steam power; interactive tutorials on how steam engines work; images of the current line and restoration activities; information about the exhibits and rolling stock restoration projects; and general GMR activities.

It is designed for use in schools as well as to promote the organisation in tourist information centres.

“The thing we get out of it as students is the exposure. I’m hoping to work for myself as a freelance web developer and getting this sort of experience is really useful. It gives us something we can show to people,” Trevor said.

Ms Woodcock said many of the past students had used the community projects to enhance their portfolios when looking for work.

“We would be happy to hear from non-profit community organisations which would like to be involved in a CD/website project during 2007,” she said.

For information about the Bachelor of Information Technology course, incorporating multimedia, visit the website www.scu.edu.au/infotech. Community organisations interested in being involved can contact Ms Woodcock on 66593199.

Photo: Screen shots from the Glenreagh Mountain Railway DVD, developed by Southern Cross University students.