Indiana University Northwest (IU Northwest) debuted their new Academic Media Production (AMP) Space on Tuesday with a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony. The AMP Space provides faculty with tools and resources to create broadcast-quality videos, presentations, and various visual aids that they can employ during in-person lessons or online instruction.
The AMP Space is the result of a twin-effort by IU Online and IU Northwest’s Center for Innovation and Scholarship in Teaching and Learning (CISTL). Among the resources it provides to faculty are Kaltura Interactive Video and Editing tools for creating “choose your own adventure” videos, Chroma Key technology, a remote control high-definition video camera, lightboard, and teleprompter.
“This is a monumental effort to advance virtual learning technology here in the Region,” said Ken Iwama, Chancellor of IU Northwest. “IU Northwest is already a leader in online education, allowing us to excel in this period of increased remote learning. The AMP Space will provide our faculty with even greater cutting-edge technology. With the talent we have here, I’m confident that we will eventually evolve into the place that everyone in Northwest Indiana will attend to learn about transformative innovation and instruction.”
Planning for the project began before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Chris Young, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Director of CISTL, recognized the timelessness of the space’s completion.
“This came at the best time it could, it’s a perfect coincidence,” Young said. “One of the challenges from the pandemic has been engaging students and keeping them engaged. We believe this studio and the technology at the disposal of our faculty will help keep those students engaged in a time where we’ve had to change things up and use different technology to teach.”
The new tools offered in the AMP Space allow for faculty to more effectively showcase complex topics due to the ability to create unique video presentations, diagrams, and interactive lessons that allow for students to play an active role in learning – even over the internet.
“Faculty will connect with their students and engage them in better, more effective ways than they’ve already done,” said Vicki Román-Lagunas, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. “IU Northwest students will receive the high-quality teaching that IU Northwest is known for, and they will continue to thrive.”
Indiana University is pushing the boundaries of virtual learning, and plays a big role in funding IU Northwest’s efforts to create the AMP Space.
“At IU, online education has a key role in supporting student success and increasing access to higher education,” said Chris Foley, Associate Vice President for University Academic Affairs and Director of the Office of Online Education. “The AMP Space represents the strong commitment that IU and IU Northwest have in investing in quality instruction, and making it available regardless of whether a student can come to a physical classroom or not.”
The AMP Space is just one of a number of similar facilities throughout the IU network, including studios at IU Bloomington and IUPUI.
“We’re creating a community of excellence for the creation of engaging, online video content,” said James McGookey, Manager of Collaboration Technologies and Classroom Support. “These technologies are here today, and ready for your class.”
To learn more about Indiana University Northwest, visit www.iun.edu.
