Multimedia
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In this section of visibledreams.net you will find modules on how to create a PowerPoint presentation, how to add narration, as well as tips and techniques for creating effective multimedia presentations, and software to aid in the delivery of the presentations.

As instructors we have two objectives for the information we present to students: one is that we would like them to be able to accurately recall the information/facts; the second is that the information is conceptualized. The purpose of using any multimedia presentation of information, should be to achieve those objectives and to achieve them more efficiently than in standard lecture based, or text-based instruction.

There is a misconception of exactly what "multimedia" is. When we refer to media, we refer to text, images, audio, and video. When we talk about multimedia we mean a combination of two or more of these mediums.

Recent research on the effectiveness of using multimedia for instruction, and has provided us with not only a sound basis for using multimedia, but best formats for multimedia instruction. There are several important things we have learned:

1. Text with images is more effective than text without images.

2. Images should be placed next to the sentences directly related to the image.

3. Narration with animation (note: animation does not refer to extraneous animation, but animation that calls attention to or illustrates) is more effective than text with images.

4. Animation (see note above) with narration ONLY is more effective than animation with narration and text.

5. Extraneous text or image/animation details should be avoided (even if interesting).

6. Extraneous sounds (background music, sound effects, etc) should be avoided.

 

For further information on multimedia and learning, I recommend reading:

Mayer, R. (2001). Multimedia Learning. 1st ed. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Clark, R., & Mayer, R. (2003). e-Learning and the Science of Instruction. 1st ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer

In addition:

School Committee on Developments in the Science of Learning John D.Bransford, Ann L.Brown, and Rodney R.Cocking, editors. (2000). How people learn brain, mind, experience, and school. Expanded ed. Washington , D.C: NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS.