Category: edci337-blog

Blog 3: Multimedia Design for Learning

Kevin Alexander’s podcast on Multimedia allows us to analyse and form opinions on the effectiveness of multimedia. Multimedia is encompassed by various surfaces (audio, video, typography, pictures, texts and stories to name a few). As such, multimedia learning is the use of multiple learning styles through words (text or listening) and pictures. As such, it is important to consider how these elements can be useful for your learners. The use of multiple sources helps all students meet their needs! These sources can include online videos for example. As a result, it puts students at the centre of their learning by allowing them to replay and review concepts. It also allows them to further use resources such as SketchNoting, Screen Capturing and H5P content. H5P content can specifically be used by teachers to make learning more interactive and engaging. It allows the teacher to add in prompts and/or small quiz questions that can guide and support the learning.

• Which multimedia learning (MML) principles did Dr. Ray Pastore not follow in his video about MML principles? Why might an expert not be able to follow all the principles when creating a multimedia learning object?

Under the podcast by Kevin Alexander, he describes Robert Mayor Principles 3 areas of processing which are the following

• Extraneous: Things we want to reduce (for example distractions) REDUCE
• Essential: to get the most important parts MANAGE
• Generative: connect different knowledges (prior) and use that to form new ideas INCREASE

These are important factors to consider when developing and using multimedia learning.

Furthermore, Dr Ray Pastore’s video about Multimedia principles does not address were embodiment, modality and redundancy. Embodiment is where people do not necessarily learn better when speaker image is present. Modality is people learn better from graphics and narrations over graphics and text. Redundancy is whereby people learn better when the same information is not presented in more than one format. These are valuable considerations as there are always going to be principles that are less predominant than others. This thus depends on your students and their needs. Dr Ray Pasture did suggest that students when asked liked to have access to all platforms (audio, text and picture) as they found that benefited their learning the most. These principles in summary act as tools and from there students are able to choose what principle works best for their learning style. Whether that be signaling, modality, redundancy etc. They all serve a purpose. Another key aspect that stood out to me was the idea of critically thinking of the pictures you select for your learners. Meaningful images help support learners. Everything is selected with purpose in order to benefit the learner. Just like the use of tools such as H5P serves a purpose!

Here is my SketchNote from Dr Ray Pastores video

Zoom Labs 

Sketch-noting

For the sketch noting lab I decided to do it on schools, and how schools are more than just schools for students, they provide resources, opportunities  and numerous communities (friends, connections, experiences) for children.

TechSmith Capture

H5P video

References

https://edtechuvic.ca/edci337/2020/06/10/topic-3-multimedia-design-for-learning/

• Ray Pastores video
• Kevin Alexanders podcast
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zrtHt3bBmQ

Blog 1

Prompts addressed:

• Outline one thing you hope to get out of this class, and one thing that you’re unsure about with this class.
• Can you think of an example of an interactive or multimedia learning experience you have experienced yourself that you enjoyed or made a positive impact on you? What made it impactful to you?

I have decided to enroll in this class as I value the importance of technology and multimedia learning in the classroom. Also, this summer, I have decided to take the required courses in order to get my “Professional Specialization Certificate in Information Communication Technology” in order to further my teaching practice. As you stated in the Introduction to Interactive and Multimedia Learning video, multimedia can act as a tool. A tool to better support students in order to meet outcomes as such it allows personalization (access to review, speed up or listen/ read). It thus provides students with opportunity and choice as there is a wide range of digital distribution. All in all, I value the supports that multimedia has in education and out of this class, I hope to gain more digital resources and how they can be beneficial in the classroom.

When thinking about some of my multimedia learning experiences, the one that stands out to me is Khan Academy and Ted Talk videos. My school was into technology and each child had their own laptop from grade 4 onwards, the younger students also now get IPADs. As such, we used technology every day. The two that I have used the most continuous from a very young age up to date is video surfaces notably: YouTube, Khan Academy and Ted Talks. These have particularly had an impact on me for multiple reasons. These outlets provide the opportunity for students to relisten to them and go at their own pace. It also provides a way to use subtitles while listening. Finally, it allows students to seek various videos from numerous sources. When struggling with a concept it is reassuring to know that there is a way to review concepts through different lenses than just the teacher’s way of instructing. For one of my high school classes, I needed a different approach/ teaching style for one of my classes and Khan Academy is what helped.  Khan Academy also provides various activities to learn. It also has a Khan Academy kids application where there are fun interactive games for children (I have never played these but have seen them being used in the classroom).

These video platforms also are used today in university, through Youtube I follow and learn from various teaching approaches notably Shelley Moore “FIve Moore Minutes” channel. Additionally, I have used Ted Talks ED and Ted Talks to learn concepts. An example of this would be Jeff Hopkins Ted Talk on Inquiry. As stated by Mayer (2014), “Multimedia learning is learning from words and pictures”. Therefore, videos allow us to learn through these elements making learning more engaging and has the capacity to include subtitles and can share various resources and visuals. As a result, multimedia supports the diversity of student learners as it incorporates a variety of senses. As explained in the cognitive theory of multimedia learning diagram below.

(Photo retrieved from: https://www.learning-theories.org/doku.php?id=learning_theories:cognitive_theory_of_multimedia_learning) 

Some other possibilities of multimedia and interactive tools include the use of the following resources:

• Smartdraw
• Edmodo
• Freshgrade
• Prezi
• Movies/Songs

Finally, I have included a resource from Prezi (made by Deandra Tart)

that explains Richard Mayers reading and multimedia principles related to learning.

https://prezi.com/pkyvm8qwjeii/using-mayers-12-principles-of-multimedia-learning/

After being immersed with those multimedia learning tools, in my grade 12 year, I decided to enroll in an online class at SIDES (South Island Distant Education School). This provided me with a fully online education experience and leading into our now following COVID-19 measures I am grateful to have been immersed in so many online resources and excited to learn more.

References

Mayer, R. (2014). Introduction to Multimedia Learning. In R. Mayer (Ed.), The Cambridge Handbook of Multimedia Learning (Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology, pp. 1-24). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9781139547369.002

https://www.learning-theories.org/doku.php?id=learning_theories:cognitive_theory_of_multimedia_learning

https://prezi.com/pkyvm8qwjeii/using-mayers-12-principles-of-multimedia-learning/