Research the latest multimedia technology. Multimedia integration into visual arts programs begins in the classroom, with each instructor and his level of technical training. Multimedia technology ranges from document cameras to multimedia design programs.
Train the teaching staff. The teaching staff and technical staff should be trained on all new technology that is introduced to the school. The cameras, projectors, computers, editing systems and software programs take time to learn and particularly to master.
Plan a technical training week for professors and staff before the start of each semester. Technical week attendance should be mandatory.
Print operation manuals and user guides for staff and student users. Otherwise students spend an entire academic term learning new systems and can fail to complete required assignments.
Introduce the multimedia equipment into visual arts programs in a structured manner. Multimedia tutorials can include cinematography, digital imaging, nonlinear editing and sound design. These tutorials can be offered inside or outside of the curriculum as a camera workshop, editing seminar or sound design session.
Enhance the visual arts curriculum with multimedia advances. The multimedia technology can be used to enhance the traditional course material, or the multimedia technology can be used to create new course offerings.
Reformat traditional classes. For example, a traditional course in color design can be reformatted to include two or three classes in digital color design. A photography lighting course can be changed to a cinematography class, where only the first few weeks teach the traditional basics of lighting.
Add new technology courses in visual arts. New film editing and sound design classes can be taught on the same computers used for the basics of color design. New courses can be offered in digital photography, computer animation and computer design.
Plan a multimedia showcase at the end of each academic year. This will encourage students struggling with the new technology to meet the end of the year deadline. It will also provide an opportunity to assess and evaluate the complete projects in a public form.