Multimedia systems: enabling computer engineering education

Multimedia systems can provide course content, active learning opportunities and instructional technology to facilitate education in the area of computer engineering to a broad range of students. This paper describes final results of a large NSF-funded project at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Since the initial stages of this project, multimedia systems have become ubiquitous in our lives. During the lifetime of this project, we have explored rapidly evolving multimedia technologies and applications in a wide variety of scenarios: a novel multimedia courseware approach using a combination of CD/DVD and Web-based technology was designed and developed. Over 400 students have now taken courses using this media in a variety of formats; a new course in multimedia systems for nonmajors was developed and is being used as a core course for new programs in information technology across 29 community colleges, state colleges and universities across Massachusetts; and a set of modules on multimedia systems including video coding, computer graphics, multimedia networking, multimedia hardware, multimedia architectures and multimedia testing were developed. This paper describes the lessons learned in the overall project and draws conclusions about the impact of multimedia systems on computer engineering education as well as methods and future opportunities for similar curriculum innovation projects.