Satellite Art Projects recently completed the first phase of strategy development for the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne, in the implementation of digital technologies in its teaching, learning and research activities.
The core team of consultants, led by Satellite Director Simon Maidment, consisted of Lou Weis, Becky Freeman and Michael Falk (all of InFrame Media) and Julie Bacon (now at the University of Kent, UK). Additional consultancy was provided by Meike Chew and Stu Nimmo, with production support provided by Alex Parker, Andy Wilson, June Canedo, and Laura Coady.
The consultancy has the simple intention of creating mechanisms for sharing the creative process of the Victorian College of the Arts. The recently submitted strategy document provides solutions that will assist in growing a formal and informal research and archive culture utilising largely open source software platforms.
Informing this strategic document was a process that looked at how the campus might further develop the use of digital platforms to extend real world discussion, learning outcomes, collaboration and professional development. It involved consultation, critical discussion, and broad research undertaken with staff, students and other industry experts over the course of nine months, along with the development of design examples, online mock-ups and wireframes, and real-world lecture and workshop documentation displaying the capabilities of a range of competing technologies. It also identified areas of potential partnership with other areas of the University and industry groups for future research projects.