The upgrade from the 100MB-base to the Gig-base network in our media art classroom was implemented in August 2005. It was made possible through a generous funding from the ITSS and the Art Department. The gig-compatible switch and network has significantly impacted the teaching and learning of Timebased Media Arts since last August.
Timebased Media Arts is the only program at UND offering a specialized study in video and motion art, and it is an area with increasing demand from the fields of art and design. Students in this area investigate creative processes and concepts of digital video and effects, animation, and alternative presentation of media.
Consequently, students work with large media files, needing to transfer a minimum of 1-5 GB files on a daily basis. One course project can easily build up to 10 GB. When needing to transfer their project over the network, the speed of network becomes crucial.
The instructors, in media art classroom, rely on network to transfer and distribute course resource/ tutorial files to students. The students transfer their project files on the network storage, so they can work on their projects from any computer station available. Students rely on speed of the network to download course resource files from the course website and source image, video, and audio files necessary for their creative projects.
With the faster network, the students are now able to focus more on learning course contents without having to diverge their time and energy on slow media transfer. In the previous years, the slower network has made the learning process at times challenging.
In sum, the network upgrade has significantly improved the overall learning environment in time-based media arts classes; it has provided the kind of technological facility necessary for fluent learning and working in time-based media. It has made the class experiences more enjoyable for the instructors and students alike.