Digital Media Services (University of Melbourne)

Description

Agent TypeOrganisationIdentifierUMA-AG-000000125Activities & OccupationsUniversity DepartmentHistoryVideo and Media Production (2014), formally Digital Media Services (DMS) is a specialised production unit that sits within the University of Melbourne’s Learning Environments sector. Its establishment stems from the 1940s and the purchase and use of slides as visual teaching aids for Fine Arts. This early education initiative was followed by the founding of a slide library for Fine Arts, and the transfer in 1944 of the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) Audio-Visual Centre to the University. Directorship of the department was accepted by Squadron-Leader Newman Rosenthal (1898-1986) in 1946. He was both a former graduate of the University and head of the RAAF’s Visual Training Section. During its early stages the Centre produced educational material for both the armed services and educational institutions. By 1957 the Centre had its own designated premises, and it had established itself as the University’s Visual Aids Department. In 1968 it merged with the University’s education Research Office to become a part of the Centre for the Study of Higher Education. Later it was known as the Audio Visual Aids Unit, Centre for the Study of Higher Education (Educational Technology Section). From 2014 the production team continued to produce material in conjunction with the University’s departments, schools and faculties with the overall purpose to assist in the delivery of learning and teaching aids in both the physical and virtual environments.

Selected references:
Hooper, C. 2012, Rosenthal, Newman Hirsh (1898-1986), in ‘Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 8, Melbourne University Press (MUP) available < http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/rosenthal-newman-hirsh-15929>.
Thomas, B. 2008, Caught on film: the story of Melbourne’s original visual archive, in ‘emaj’, Iss. 3, http://culture-communication.unimelb.edu.au/sites/culture-communication.unimelb.edu.au/files/thomas-caught-on-film.pdf (Accessed 21/04/2016)Search records of this agent

Moving Image

Series

Dates

Date1944-

Names

AcronymDMSOther NamesVideo and Media Production, Learning EnvironmentsAudio Visual Aids Unit

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Digital Media Services (University of Melbourne)