What have I learned about designing a lesson from a multimedia perspective?

Currently, I have learned how to use various Adobe software programs and Audacity as an audio program to create an instructional set for how to do a certain task. I have spent much of my time learning the software programs in order to create these instruction sets. So far, we have covered how to create a text-based, visual-only, visual and text, and audio-only lesson.  And we have also focused on the layout and how to apply color theory to the instructional set. Up until now, not much time has been discussed on how the various media impacts learning and the ability to recall information from memory.

Next, some considerations should be taken into account as to which media is best to use in your instructional set and which media produces the most information processing capacity for the learner.

        Some key concepts to consider would be when you should use a single media or several media together to present a lesson. Will the use of audio and video or audio and pictures together enhance the lesson or distract from the information being presented? Should combining two medias together in the lesson incorporate redundant information or unlike information? If learners have a limited capacity processing ability, when would you use two different channels of media to present a concept?

Some findings from Lane (1995) on audio and video redundancy can be summarized by the following:  Multiple channel redundancy presentations are better than single channel presentations for recalling, storing, and retrieving information. The use of audio information is less effective when redundancy between audio and video is not present.  Having both visuals and pictures in the presentation of information helps best with information retrieval. For example, reading stories aloud has a greater chance of recall when combined with pictures.

Considering Lane’s (1995) findings, the use of audio-visual instruction can benefit teaching and learning when two medias are combined in a way that increases information processing. In addition, using visuals and audio can increase comprehension, but the instructor should be cautious when presenting both visuals and audio so that use of one media does not distract the learner from the skills or information that should be comprehended.

        Some potential issues with the use of audio-visual instruction is that the information presented could be over the capacity limit to comprehend the information. As complexity of the skill being taught increases, the two channels of media should not differ greatly because it could cause information overload, therefore decreasing comprehension.

       Using audio and video or pictures can impact teaching and learning by providing better comprehension by the learner; but, teachers should be careful not to overload the learner with audio and pictures to the extent it distracts from learning.

References

COMMUNICATION RESEARCH, Vol. 22 No. 1, February 1995 86-115

 0 1995 Sage Publications, Inc.