Authoring multimedia learning material using open standards and free software

The purpose of this paper is to describe the case of synchronized multimedia presentations.

The proposal is based on SMIL as composition language. Particularly, the paper reuses and customizes the SMIL template used by INRIA on their technical presentations. It also proposes a set of free tools to produce presentation content and design focusing on RealPlayer as delivery client. The integration in this e‐learning platform of multimedia compositions developed following the proposed technique is also presented.

Technological support to learning and teaching has become widespread due to computers and internet ubiquity. Particularly e‐learning platforms permit the any‐time‐and‐any‐place distribution of interactive multimedia learning materials. There are commercial tools available to author this kind of content, usually based on proprietary formats. This option has some drawbacks like license cost and software company dependency. To use open data standards and free software is an alternative without these inconveniences but available authoring tools are commonly less productive. This shortcoming is certainly important to non‐technical authors and it could be solved by open source collaboration.

The paper presents multimedia learning material using open standards and free software.