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Using New Media

by Clara Chung-wai Shih and David E. Weekly
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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction (Home)
Preface
1) Distribute print media electronically
2) Use CD/DVD
3) Use Internet media
4) Encourage reading on computer monitors
5) Select appropriate materials using proven methods
6) If possible, teach computer use
7) The trend is in technology's favor
8) Conclusions
Glossary
References
About the International Academy of Education

Use CD/DVD

CDs offer substantial storage capacity and can be used again and again without requiring Internet access.

Research findings
Most computers in the world today are not connected to the Internet, because it is unavailable or too expensive. Most computers can, however, read CDs or DVDs. They can store more than 300,000 pages of text. (Though less available, DVDs can hold even more material.) Enhancements such as sound, color, and animation take up more space than text, but given the vast amount of storage available even on a CD, it is easy to include them in addition to the text. CDs can be used by many people and as many times as is needed; as long as they are not badly scratched, they can last for years. CDs can also be easily copied (also called "burned") with a special "CD burner", which comes with most CD drives in new computers. Data can generally be read from a CD faster than it can be read from the Internet, especially if Internet access is slow or not always available.

While there is a small amount of cost to produce and distribute CDs, the distribution costs are much less than for print, as a CD weighs less than a small booklet. CD shipping costs compare very favorably to print: shipping thousands of books costs hundreds of times more than shipping a single CD that contains far more text. CDs must be handled carefully; scratches and exposure to sunlight can cause some or all sections of the CD to become unreadable. One disadvantage of using CDs is that change to the material require the production and shipment of a new set of CDs. As such, Internet-based content may be more appropriate for information that is frequently updated, such as news. (See the following section.)

Practical applications
  1. CD versus DVD
    Most DVDs can store seven times as much information as a CD. But while DVD readers can also read CDs, CD readers cannot read DVDs. Most computers have CD readers, but not only do less than half of North American households have a DVD reader, less than 1% of households in India and Sub-Saharan Africa have access to DVD readers. If the goal of a project is to produce material that is as widely useable as is possible, it is probably better to use CDs than DVDs, even if it will require several CDs.

  2. Sharing
    The ease with which CDs may be copied suggests an easy model for sharing mentioned in the introduction: after a school receives a CD, it can make CD or print copies for students, parents, teachers, and other schools. There is no limit to the number of copies that can be made from a single CD; those copies, in turn, may also be copied indefinitely. It is, however, recommended that providers of CDs send several copies to recipients in case some disks are lost or broken. For the same reason, recipients of CD media should try to keep at least one copy of a CD on hand in case the original disappears or becomes unusable.

  3. Handling
    To prevent CDs from becoming unreadable, CDs must be handled carefully. Sunlight, heat, and scratches can all destroy a disc. CDs should ideally be stored in a cool, clean, and dry environment at 60-70°F (16-21°C). Discs should be stored inside protective plastic or paper "sleeves" to help reduce the likelihood of getting scratched.


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