High costs and some ICT-managed service agreements are making it hard for schools to take advantage of a potentially powerful teaching and learning tool - streaming media.

As the name suggests, streaming media is sent to a computer or other device in the form of an audio or video stream, rather than as a file that is downloaded on to a hard drive.

What's great about streaming media
The benefits of streaming media are that it is fast (no need to wait for a large file to be downloaded before accessing it) and because it isn’t stored permanently on a computer, copyright is less of an issue. Streaming media is widely used on the internet. The BBC for example, offers audio programmes (such as radio shows) and video clips that can be streamed to a computer. Examples of streaming media formats include RealPlayer from RealNetworks, Microsoft’s Windows Media Player and Apple’s QuickTime.

Using streaming media to distribute content in schools
But some schools are now thinking about using streaming media to distribute content around the school network or via the internet. David Smith, RealNetworks’ European education manager, says, “Many schools have invested in digital video cameras, webcams, VCRs, DVD players and have libraries containing hundreds of VHS video and audio tapes, and DVDs with extensive curriculum material.

Sharing this valuable educational resource is a challenge. Turning it into streaming media allows all institutions to share, create and archive this valuable educational information. By using streaming media servers, institutions can share and stream their audio and video around the school network to the home (for home study), to other schools (where skills may be in short supply) and to excluded students regardless of their location.”

What software do we need?
In order to do this, schools need streaming media server software. Microsoft says that schools using its Windows Server 2003, are licensed to run Media Server at no extra charge. Apple offers a free streaming media solution called Darwin Streaming Server. RealNetworks has developed a special licensing system for schools using its streaming media package, with an annual licence costing £2 per user, with a minimum of 250 users; that is, £500 a year. A perpetual licence scheme for 250 users costs £1,250.

Streaming to mobile phones
One of the most exciting developments is the ability to stream audio and video to a mobile phone handset. “At the moment, students are passive consumers of video and audio content. If students could be at the forefront of developing the mobile phone video, I believe that we not only have a bright future with mobile devices being used in education, but also in the emerging mobile streaming broadcasting industry,” says Adam Burt, technical tutor at Ravensbourne College in southeast London. Burt has been working with Sean O’Sullivan, deputy head at Frank Wise school in Oxfordshire, on a project that involved developing streaming media content for mobile phones.

The school has almost 100 pupils with severe learning difficulties, and the work was carried out by its older students (aged 14-16). “Our students already use Apple’s iMovie [video editing software], so creating streaming media content didn’t involve any new skills,” says Sean. The students have created several films and converted them into streaming media. One film is of a school music concert in aid of the Tsunami disaster, and another is a Christmas film featuring Sir Bobby Charlton. The videos are stored on an Apple streaming server and can be accessed via a computer or a mobile phone and internet connection.

The problem is that few parents or pupils at Frank Wise have mobile phones that can display video, and even fewer have internet access. “Cost is an issue,” says Sean. “We’d like to extend this work, but it would mean some form of sponsorship or support from a mobile phone company.”

Adam adds: “Mobile phone companies need to reduce their costs so that schools can take advantage of this exciting development, perhaps by offering some form of flat rate fee for internet access.”

Even worse, some schools can’t even get streaming video on their networks. The ICT management contract between Edinburgh City Council and BT Syntegra, for example, currently precludes the use of streaming media in schools. “It’s not a technical issue, but a cost issue,” said an education representative from Edinburgh council. “It’s a question of cost, and at present no one seems to be prepared to pay for it.”