Interfacing Instructional Web Media with Live Stage Lighting Control

R. Lee Kennedy, Art

1999 TTI Fellow

Project website: http://cti.itc.virginia.edu/~rlk3p/

The most important aspect of stage lighting instruction is the practical manipulation of light in the studio. Supported by a diverse range of instructional materials and lighting technologies, one of the greatest challenges to the beginning student is the technical learning curve. The daily process of organizaing matrials, setting up equipment, and providing technical instruction is a time-consuming process that significantly limits class time available for practical work.

In this project I propose to create a set of web-based instructional materials for my undergraduate lighting courses: Drama 211: Lighting Technology and Drama 411: Lighting Design. Included in this resource will be a special visual HTML interface to a Windows-based lighting control system in the studio classroom. Together they will create an efficient and univorm medium for lighting instruction that will ultimately result in improved student design and critical thinking skills.