Archive for August, 2009
Multimedia Experience & Enhanced Learning
Reflective blog question
Think about an example of how multimedia have been used effectively to enhance your learning.
I experienced good use of multimedia in two online Psychology courses delivered by the same instructor over a two-year period.
I would have to say, that she certainly attempted to “maximize the affordances of the web”, based on the technologies and resources that were available at that time (2001-2003).
She chose a modern text that included and interactive CD that included interactive media, animations, audio/visual glossary, and instructional videos. These combined with the textbook and online companion site from the publisher, plus many links to audio interviews from authentic sources, articles, studies, online assessments and demonstrations of labs and experiments certainly kept the course interesting, provided opportunities for interactive learning and appealed to multiple learning styles!
I learned a lot during these courses and I retained a great deal, especially of the components that were interactive and visual (in comparison to a correspondence-style print-based Psychology course I took – similar content and yet it took major effort on my part as I had a real challenge retaining all the material covered and recalling all the text-based content!!). I’m definitely a kinesthetic learner and benefit greatly from audio/visual as well, especially for complex concepts – if I see it and can try it out, I’ve got it, but if I just read about it, I don’t retain nearly as much!