Speakers Detail Development of College's Streaming-Media System

Two presenters from Pennsylvania College of Technology explained development of an institutional streaming-media system and impressively showcased the collaborative result at the 2010 EDUCAUSE Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference in Baltimore.

James R. Dougherty III, manager of instructional technology, and Tracey Amey, librarian for digital initiatives at Penn College's Madigan Library, offered a how-to primer for "Implementing a Streaming Media Server and Database" at the college. Their presentation focused on developing and integrating the comprehensive streaming-media system that was unveiled at the college during the Spring 2009 semester.

Amey and Dougherty provided a step-by-step implementation timeline from needs analysis, through the pilot and testing phase, to the collegewide rollout. The speakers' major points were interdepartmental cooperation (the task force encompassed information technology, instructional technology and library representatives), cost efficiency and maximization of existing resources.

Because the bulk of the media material available to faculty/staff and students is protected, issues of digital copyright and intellectual property also were addressed. A demonstration of Penn College's streaming-media system concluded the presentation.

Dougherty joined the college's Office of Instructional Technology staff in November 2003. His background includes film and video production and post-production, Web design and development, instructional design, and project management.

He received a bachelor's degree in film and media arts from Temple University and is pursuing his master's in instructional technology at Bloomsburg University.

Amey, a college employee since 2005, holds a master's degree in library science from Rutgers University and a bachelor's degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. She has worked for Congress and for academic institutions in New Jersey, where she applied herself to the systems or computer side of library services.

EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association, the mission of which is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. Its membership comprises more than 2,200 colleges, universities and educational organizations with 17,000 active members.

For general information about Penn College, visit online , e-mail or call toll-free 800-367-9222.