Department Overview

| 288 English Building |

.The Facilities

Located along the north corridor of the 1st floor of the English Building, the English Multimedia Center is open from 7:50 to 4:00, Monday through Friday.

In addition to the Multimedia Center's facilities, a small multimedia seminar room on the building's first floor (107) is also available for use.

The Equipment

The Center offers play-back and recorder units in many formats: cassette; phonograph; reel-to-reel; CD boombox; 8mm/Super 8 film projectors; 16mm projectors; overhead projectors; slide projectors; VHS; Beta; U-Matic; DVD; laserdisc; Sony televisions; Panasonic televisions with closed caption decoders; Barco high-resolution, large-screen projection system; PC w/scanner; and a portable PC linked to an overhead LCD projector.

The Media Library

The Center's video tape/laserdisc/DVD collection (for use by English Dept. instructors) specializes in dramatic films, theatrical performances, documentaries, and author readings. Other formats are on hand: audio cassette, reel-to-reel, phonograph, and an extensive collection of famous art works on 35mm slides. A growing CD-ROM collection allows for scholarly reference and research in film, literature, and general knowledge.

Suggested Strategies for Multimedia Instruction

Teaching is rapidly adapting to new technologies. Besides the obvious and popular screening of video tapes and laserdiscs in classrooms, the increasing availability of scholarly CD-ROM databases and web pages offers innovations in the preparation and presentation of classroom information. Many U of I teachers have already successfully incorporated email, CD-ROMs, web pages, and PowerPoint slide presentations in their classrooms.

Reservation Questions:

Equipment, tapes, and rooms are reserved through Chris Fiscus on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations can be made in person, by phone (333-2577) or e-mail (c-fiscus@uiuc.edu).

For Advice on Using Multimedia Technology in the Classroom:

E-mail Syd Slobodnik or call (244-7146) for suggestions, help, and tutorials on using multimedia equipment for and in English Department courses and research.

Other Useful Multimedia Links:

Undergraduate Library Media Center

University of Illinois OIR, Office of Instructional Resources (check their schedule of free computer labs)