The Value of Multimedia in Learning

How do you create a truly effective multimedia learning
experience? Explore the latest research and discover best
practices for creating enriching educational experiences.


Summary
As broadband becomes ubiquitous, interactive designers are increasingly called upon
to incorporate multiple media and dynamic graphics into their work. Presenting
instruction in multiple media can be more effective than doing it through a single
medium (such as text), but what is important is combining media effectively, not
merely adding media.
Effective multimedia for learning requires carefully combining media in wellreasoned ways that take advantage of each medium’s unique characteristics. The most
effective multimedia provides learning experiences that mirror real-world experiences
and let learners apply the content in various contexts.
From Computer-Based Training to Multimedia
In a previous career, as head of training for a clinical medicine organization, I bought
a computer-based learning package that taught medical terminology to medical
assistants, technicians, and transcriptionists. Completely text based, the program
was rather revolutionary for the time. I remember that Bonnie Newton, my training
buddy, and I were happy to be able to provide an alternative for those who couldn’t
attend her immensely popular medical terminology classes. This training was
critically important for those who had to know the meaning of terms like “macrovascular”
and “macroglossia,” and the existence of multiple training options gave them the
flexibility to get their training as they needed it.
Jump ahead 15 years to current medical terminology e-learning. Now graphics
illustrate each term, audio demonstrates the correct pronunciation, animations allow
visualization of different parts of each whole, and video shows everyday use. Learners
can make use of electronic flashcards and download print resources for help with
studying. The classroom-based course allowed for live interaction. The old computerbased training provided flexibility for training. Multimedia offers the potential to
augment learning with a vibrancy that the old computer-based training couldn’t
easily achieve. For example, multimedia can add clarity through multiple views, as in
process guidelines alongside an animation. It can provide depth through additional
information channels and resources. It can also add richness and meaning, through
video, to show as well as tell. And, if it is not done thoughtfully and wWelcome to multimedia learning. What Is Multimedia?
Definitions of multimedia vary. Richard Mayer, professor of psychology at the University of
California, Santa Barbara, defines multimedia as presentation of content that relies on both text and
graphics. This definition, in my opinion, is a good start, but it doesn’t provide deep enough insights
about the essential factors that can make multimedia effective (or less effective) for learning.
Mao Neo and Ken T. K. Neo, faculty at Multimedia University in Malaysia, extend this definition.
They say that multimedia is “the combination of various digital media types, such as text, images,
sound, and video, into an integrated multisensory interactive application or presentation to
convey a message or information to an audience.” This definition appeals to me because it implies
that the combination adds up to more than the elements by themselves, which I believe is the
key quality of multimedia when it comes to learning. In any combinations or permutations of
common media formats, the whole should be greater than the sum of the parts.
Multimedia certainly has the potential to extend the amount and type of information available
to learners. Multimedia can offer layers of beneficial resources, provide gratuitous information
leading to frustration and overload, or anything in between. For example, online encyclopedias
can provide links to videos and additional articles on specific topics of interest. News stories
can reference links to audio commentaries, replays of video footage, and links to websites
with additional resources. Online instruction can include explanations, links to resources,
simulations, illustrations and photographs, and myriad types of activities that can also include
multiple media. Too many resources and media, however, and the benefits get crowded out by
the need to figure out what’s what.