Preferred Standards to Support National Cooperation in Applying Technology to VET

National Guidelines for Technology (continued)

C. Operating Guidelines

Email

• A staff member's prior consent should gained before their email address or other contact details are made available in an LDAP directory
• The client or the email system should send emails with lines typically no longer than 70 characters, except for lines with quotes from previous messages, which should not generally exceed 80 characters. Users may include some longer lines if they choose, such as for long URLs.
• Quoted portions of messages must be clearly recognisable as such.
• Nested attachments should not be sent.
• Emails should begin with the main message as plain text, rather than RTF or HTML. That message should describe the attached file. RTF, HTML and other file formats should be sent as attachments, unless it is known that the recipient wishes to receive the primary message in one of these special formats.
• An HTML or RTF version of an email message should not be attached to the plain text version unless it conveys further meaning to the plain text version.
• Do not send emails longer than 1 megabyte. VET courses which require the transfer of larger files should use alternative mechanisms, such as FTP.

Internet and Intranets

• "Navigational" web pages – all publicly available material other than instructional pages - should allow rapid loading, for instance 15 seconds via a 28.8 Kb/s modem. The total size of the HTML file and all included graphics files should be no more than 50 KB.
• The site should be navigable with descriptive text mode links.
• Instructional pages should only contain objects related to the educational purpose of the page.
• Pages which contain graphics should specify the size of the graphic image in the HTML.
• Web pages should be designed as much as possible so that progress is visible while it is loading.
• Web site organisation should be as simple as possible
• Avoid the use of excessively long file and directory names.
• For file and directory names, use lower-case letters and numbers. Do not use spaces within file names.
• When an instructional page contains a link to another site,
• make the link open that site in a smaller browser window which overlays the current page.
• make it clear that the link leads to a separate site, and that its copyright belongs to authors or owners of that site.
• Pages which encourage users to download executable programs should link to the original site of that software
• The technical requirements for a web-based course should be clearly stated to students before they enrol.
• Copyright should be observed for print resources.
• Pages should be viewable without the need for users to scroll horizontally.
• On each web page, include the date of last update, and contact details for the webmaster or author.
• Care should be taken to ensure maintenance of web material to ensure, for instance, that material is up-to-date and that there are no broken links.
• Institutions should establish and follow quality guidelines for web material.
• Metadata should follow the standards established by EdNA.
• In all navigational pages, a search facility and/or site-map link should always be visible.

Video Conferencing

Technical

• The choice of technology needs to match the application. Desktop or PC based videoconferencing is a personal space while room systems are generally for groups.
• The user interface device also needs to match the situation.

Peripherals

Recommended peripherals are:

• Scan converter for computer based information such as presentation graphics
• Document/graphics camera for showing real objects and writing
• Videotape recorder
• Monitors : 1 – 4
• External speakers preferred
• Phillips fluorescent tube for colour balance: TLD 83, SS
• Teacher preview monitor
• Echo cancellor
• Desktop units should be equipped with earpiece rather than open speakers to avoid echo problems

General Environment

• Help desk access should be available through a speed dial telephone in the room for assistance in case of technical failure.
• Booking facilities should not be located in the videoconferencing room
• For heavy use facilities, the furniture should be arranged for good viewing angles to the monitors and avoidance of reflections from lights
• Room lighting levels should be 50% above office lighting levels. This can be achieved by the use of 3 tube fixtures with plastic diffusers at the normal light fitting spacing
• Electrical and communications cables and wires should be installed in conduits to avoid safety hazards in pathways within the room
• In multipoint conferences, microphones should be muted unless speaking
• Carpet should be installed for better acoustic
• Avoid castors on chairs to discourage unnecessary movement

Staffing

A lean, but coordinated videoconferencing management structure is required within the Registered Training Organisation.

[Previous section] [Next Section]