Abstract:

Currently many post-secondary polytechnic institutions offer computer science and information technology degree programs that focus on mobile computing and web development. For students in these programs, a properly structured multimedia course is essential as multimedia content is widely employed in mobile and web applications. This paper shares the author's experience in the design and development of such a course. The paper discusses the course's learning objectives, content, essential skills, evaluation, and teaching methods, as well as how theory and practicals are balanced. The paper also discusses the identification and selection of open source software tools for graphics editing, sound processing, animation, and video editing. These tools are cost-effective alternatives to commercial products. The tools are used by the students when they do hands-on exercises, complete course assignments and the term project. Observations and student feedback comments are provided to justify the appropriateness of course design, course delivery and the selection of the software tools.

Keywords:

Undergraduate curriculum, multimedia course design, open source tools, graphics, sound, animation, video, editing and content creation.