• Section 1 - Purpose and Context
• Section 2 - Definitions
• Section 3 - Policy Statement
• Section 4 - Procedures
• Section 5 - Guidelines

Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) Western Sydney University supports the production and use of multimedia to engage and intrinsically motivate students in their on-campus and online learning environments.

(2) This Policy applies to all forms of produced media in learning and research contexts, including but not limited to illustrated text, audio, video and animation. 

(3) This Policy should be read in conjunction with the Disability Policy, Copyright Policy, Learning Technologies Policy and Key Content Capture Guidelines.

Section 2 - Definitions

(4) For the purposes of this policy and associated guidelines, the following definitions apply:

1. Accessibility – when learning materials are able to be perceived, understood and used by all learners, including those with disabilities.
2. Producer – University staff member.
3. Rich Media – high quality, professionally produced communication for learning or marketing purposes, that uses multiple forms of interactive content and is intended to have a shelf-life beyond two years. 
4. Produced Multimedia – content with illustrated text, audio, video and animation.
5. Feedback video –  informal short video created to build community and provide timely feedback and encouragement to students. Video is produced by the instructor for one-time use and via desktop or mobile capture.
6. Western One Stop (Studio) video – scripted broadcasts providing detailed content or demonstrating a concept/task. These studio-supported videos are branded and designed to be reusable and scalable to multiple iterations of a unit or course.
7. Lecture Capture - in-class experience captured live in the classroom using the University video management system, where available. This facility is intended to support flexibility for students who cannot make the face-to-face session(s). (Refer also to the Key Content Capture Guidelines).
8. Text transcript – direct reproduction of speech or sounds from a video or live situation in a verbatim reproduction of the speech or sounds from a video or live situation.

Section 3 - Policy Statement

(5) Producers must ensure that educational multimedia conforms with current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines so that all students’ learning, including those with a disability, is enhanced.

(6) Produced multimedia, feedback video, Western One Stop broadcasts with auditory content must include text transcripts or a summary highlighting key points.

(7) All producers must ensure that their multimedia content conforms to copyright, attribution rights, University Policies and the Key Content Capture Guidelines.

(8) Produced Multimedia must be reusable and scalable with sufficient directions to enable subsequent academic staff delivering the unit/course to use the item.

(9) Where visual content providing additional content and meaning accompanies audio content, a form of notation must be available to provide equivalent explanation.

(10) All educational multimedia must be appropriate to the curriculum element, culturally competent and protect the privacy of any persons included in its content. (Refer to the Privacy Policy)

(11) All teaching and learning material, including embedded content provided in the Learning Management System, or delivered as part of curriculum, must comply with this policy, Key Content Capture Guidelines, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and the Copyright Policy.

(12) The University will ensure that facilities are available to support multimedia production and use as set out in this policy.  

Section 4 - Procedures

(13) Procedures for producing educational multimedia are contained in the Key Content Capture Guidelines.

(14) Where, in exceptional circumstances, a multimedia producer wishes to deviate from the recommendations in the Key Content Capture Guidelines, or due to technological advances relevant instructions are not included in the Key Content Capture Guidelines, advice from the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Learning Futures should be obtained.

Section 5 - Guidelines

(15) Key Content Capture Guidelines.

(16) Other relevant Policies and Resources are:

1. Copyright Policy;
2. Acceptable Use of Digital Services Policy;
3. Privacy Policy;
4. Student Code of Conduct;
5. Western Sydney University Accessibility Action Plan 2018-2020
6. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines ;
7. Records and Archives Management Policy.

(17) Suggested websites relating to content accessibility are included in the Key Content Capture Guidelines.