Low-cost Solutions to Multimedia Use in Meteorological Education Edward Podgaisky, RSHU, Russia

The World Meteorological Organization Regional Meteorological Training Center in Russian Federation Russian State Hydrometeorological University РГГМУ

1930 – Meteorological Institute was founded in Moscow 1995 – Following the Agreement between the World Meteorological Organization and Russian Government the Institute became the WMO Regional Meteorological Training Center 1998 – The Institute was given university status History

RSHU Meteorological Faculty Hydrological Faculty Oceanological Faculty Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Physics Faculty of Economics and Social Science Faculty of Extramural Learning About 5000 students (incl. international students) are enrolled 330 academic staff incl. 64 Doctors and professors 255 teachers with academic degrees

Candidate of ScienceCandidate of Science Engineer or MSc + 3 years Doctor of Science Doctor of Science Candidate + 3 years BScBSc 4 years 4 years (in campus) EngineerEngineer 5-6 years 5-6 years (in and off-campus) (in and off-campus) MScMSc BSc program + 2 years (in campus) Study Programs:

Regional Meteorological Training Center in Russian Federation Moscow meteorological college Technical education Russian State Hydrometeorological University Higher Education Refresher Training Institution Training Courses

WMO fellows at RSHU ( )

Background RSHU has been experimenting with computer-aided learning since 1990 RSHU has been experimenting with computer-aided learning since months at COMET 4 months at COMET Creating a dedicated unit within the university structure Creating a dedicated unit within the university structure

First steps Translating an existing COMET module Translating an existing COMET module pe_rus/ OR: (!!!) pe_rus/ OR: (!!!) pe_rus/ pe_rus/ uoy_cape_rus/index.htmhttp://cirrus.geoph.itb.ac.id/comet/convectn/b uoy_cape_rus/index.htmhttp://cirrus.geoph.itb.ac.id/comet/convectn/b uoy_cape_rus/index.htmhttp://cirrus.geoph.itb.ac.id/comet/convectn/b uoy_cape_rus/index.htm Hosting a WMO workshop on computerization in meteorological education and training Hosting a WMO workshop on computerization in meteorological education and training Discussion group on ODL was created Discussion group on ODL was created

First steps (2) Translating of a COMET module on our own Translating of a COMET module on our own Translating abstracts of COMET modules, Translating abstracts of COMET modules, Staff attitude: they would like to have some modules translated Staff attitude: they would like to have some modules translated Translation of COMET template to be used for RSHU own webcasts production Translation of COMET template to be used for RSHU own webcasts production

Breakthrough The bid at the RF Ministry of Education was won The bid at the RF Ministry of Education was won 10 technical staff were trained to produce webcasts based on COMET template 10 technical staff were trained to produce webcasts based on COMET template 12 hours of webcasts were produced in a month time. 12 hours of webcasts were produced in a month time. Change of attitude among academic staff Change of attitude among academic staff

Technicalities Hardware: Hardware: MMPs - $1500MMPs - $1500 Voice recorders - $150Voice recorders - $150 Videorecorders for technical purposes - $300 (simplest)Videorecorders for technical purposes - $300 (simplest) Software: Software: Audiocity - voice editing – free!Audiocity - voice editing – free! PowerPoint (MS Office+ Windows XP) -PowerPoint (MS Office+ Windows XP) - Macromedia Flash MX $240 educational licenseMacromedia Flash MX $240 educational license FlashSpring 1.5 (2.0) - <$100 educational licenseFlashSpring 1.5 (2.0) - <$100 educational license

Problems so far Low connectivity among academic staff and students Low connectivity among academic staff and students Lack of skills to produce decent PowerPoint presentations - chalk and blackboard still widely used Lack of skills to produce decent PowerPoint presentations - chalk and blackboard still widely used Lack of skills in copyright issues Lack of skills in copyright issues Commercialization of Russian segment of the Internet - lack of online resources freely available Commercialization of Russian segment of the Internet - lack of online resources freely available

Perspectives Increase the volume of content Increase the volume of content Megapolis - mobile solutions Megapolis - mobile solutions Podcasts?Podcasts? New funding opportunities New funding opportunities mpus/doc/jep_tacis_2005.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/te mpus/doc/jep_tacis_2005.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/te mpus/doc/jep_tacis_2005.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/te mpus/doc/jep_tacis_2005.pdf

Thank you for your attention! Edward Podgaisky Head, ID and ODL unit, IT Center, RSHU