Feedback November 2002 (Vol 43 No 4)

Table 1TV/Video-Radio-Web Production Course OfferingsNumber TV/Video Radio Webof Courses (Frequency/%) (Frequency/%) (Frequency/%)0 0/(0.0%) 0/(0.0%) 24/(25.0%)1 4/(4.2%) 16/(16.7%) 26/(27.1%)2 8/(8.3%) 16/(16.7%) 24/(25.0%)3 18/(18.8%) 34/(35.4%) 18/(18.8%)4 22/(22.9%) 20/(20.8%) 2/(2.1%)5 8/(8.3%) 8/(8.3%) 2/(2.1%)More than 5 36/(37.5%) 2/(2.1%) 0/(0.0%)Mean 4.50 2.35 1.53SD 1.41 1.08 1.00N=96 (total programs)With regard to digital equipment, as Table 2 indicates, the “typical” programprovides students with four digital camcorders, four or five non-linear editing (NLE)systems, three or four digital record/playback decks, and two digital audio workstations(DAW). There is, however, a statistically significant correlation between school enrollmentand the amount of digital equipment a program has (with the exception ofDAW). 2 Whether it be digital camcorders, non-linear editors, digital record/playbackdecks, or digital audio workstations, the larger the enrollment, usually, the more digitaltools (See Table 2).Table 2Amount of Digital Equipment (Based on School Enrollment)School Enrollment Range30,000 All SchoolsN=54 N=22 N=14 N=6 N=96Digital CamerasMean 3.42 5.14 5.64 5.67 4.28SD 2.19 0.92 1.57 1.16 2.02Non-Linear EditorsMean 3.72 5.09 5.86 6.00 4.49SD 2.01 1.38 0.38 0.20 1.86Digital DecksMean 2.83 4.64 4.71 5.00 3.66SD 2.44 1.86 1.70 1.73 2.31Digital AudioWorkstationsMean 1.71 2.91 3.00 2.33 2.21SD 1.53 2.21 2.31 3.22 2.05As mentioned earlier, one of the more difficult decisions facing faculty with regardsto digital production equipment is what specific brand to purchase. Can you afford anindustry standard? What works best within the framework of your program? WhichBEA—Educating tomorrow’s electronic media professionals 9