This document discusses the elements and process of producing multimedia educational programs for open and distance learning. It outlines the key stages of program production including planning, research, scripting, production, editing, evaluation. The major elements are infrastructure like equipment and facilities, and human resources like production staff. It also describes common program formats like interviews, panels, documentaries and quizzes. The goal is to effectively engage the target audience and convey educational content through an entertaining presentation using various multimedia elements.

1. Multimedia Material
Production for ODL
Dr Ankuran Dutta
Programme Officer, CEMCA
(Formerly Deputy Director, Multimedia at
KKHSOU)

2. Elements of Multimedia
Programme Production for
ODL
A multimedia programme production consists
mainly of the following two major elements :
Basic physical resources or infrastructure :
These include equipment, machines, materials,
buildings, studios, or a production complex.
People or human resources : This includes
trained personnel who are required to manage
the process, operate equipment are provide
ideas, expertise and services for programme
production.

3. Programme Planning and
Research
This is the pre-production stage
Formulate ideas, briefs, synopsis/academic note
for programme
Need assessment and Research : examining the
needs of viewers, context of viewing-specific
research on content and its enrichment
Plan to make it entertaining and attractive with
educational content

4. Message Matrix and
Scripting
Think on designing and presentation strategy
Visual possibilities of the medium
Selection of materials
Sequence of the messages to be covered
Programme shape and structure-format and style
Story board and final script

5. Planning for Production
and Scheduling
Planning, budgeting and scheduling of
production
Designing the production script
Organizing various production resources/facilities

6. Casting and Directing
Identifying and casting performers
Performer should be know the target audience
and should behave accordingly
Directing artists, rehearsals

7. Final Production, Editing
and Capsuling
Studio/field recording
Try to use more than three cameras in studio
recording to take different angles
Should add related videos/ photos to make it
more informative
Editing and final mixing- should add animations
to make a complex issue easily understandable
capsules designing, previewing and evaluation

8. Evaluation
Mounting utilization and evaluation studies
Monitoring transmission and obtaining feedback
from the field
Feeding research findings back into the system

9. Programme formats :
Story/straight talk : generally uses one person as
a narrator or presenter
Interview : presence of two people – an
interviewer and an interviewee for face-to-face
dialogue.

10. Panel discussion : It is a discussion not an
interview. A panel consisting of three or more
experts discusses a subject matter or more of
public interest/ students interest or controversy.
Feature : In this format, a single topic or subject
is chosen for presentation of its various aspects
and the discussion of facts, opinions, beliefs,
arguments, controversies and counter-arguments
– all about the same topic.

11. Magazine: Just like a monthly magazine contains
articles on different topics, a radio or television
magazine programme can also have different
kinds of items, often unrelated to each other.
Drama : Drama is a very interesting and
entertaining format and is specially effective
when it is intended to appeal to the emotions of
the audience. Drama enables us to present and
watch people, their behaviour, temperaments
and characteristics in realistic or life-like
situations.

12. Documentary : Documentary takes a factual
approach to a subject. An issue is treated in
depth and all its aspects are factually
investigated.
Quiz : Quiz format is highly stimulating and
participatory. It is a useful format for presenting
educational and current affairs.

13. Structure of an educational
programme
Aim at the target group
Give a good working title
Explain the objectives
Use effective format and style
Discuss the content outline
Any additional information from your SLM
Use pictures, videos and animations related to the
topic

14. Acknowledgement: IGNOU and KKHSOU