When I think about the use of multimedia in a classroom the old adage comes to mind of
Tell me, I will forget
Show me, I may remember
Involve me, and I will understand
I find the statements in the majority of research that I have come across about the effectiveness of multimedia that “researchers have found that multimedia helps people learn more easily because it appeals more readily to diverse learning preferences.” Is this not relatively obvious? Did they can spend research dollars to arrive at that conclusion? What a shocker that multimedia CAN facilitate learning if used correctly. I have often found that there is a dramatic learning curve when it comes to learning how to use multimedia effectively. Multimedia can also be ineffective, even detrimental to the learning process, when implemented poorly. Learners learn best when they are actively engaged by the material being presented to them. Learners having an emotional investment in the material or content being presented will solidify connection and pathways within the brain and are more likely to be able to recall the information. Learners need to view the content that is being presented as being meaningful to them. A learner having the abilities to have multiple exposures to the same material through a variety of different media increases retention and promotes the learning process. Since multimedia allows the learner to make an emotional interaction with the material allows them to see the connect to daily life verse rote memorization, and it is this application of the learning into practice that is more important long term then the ability to recall memorized facts. There is a long list of positive benefits to well-designed multimedia.
The following just being the tip of the iceberg;
Alternative perspectives
Active participation
Accelerated Learning
Retention and application of knowledge
Problem-solving and decision-making skills
System understanding
Higher-order thinking
Autonomy and focus
Control over pacing and sequencing of information
Access to support information
When using Multimedia, what is important is the actually combining of the different media effectively, and intergrading them within another, not merely adding media together which can become a distraction. The most effective multimedia provides learning experiences that mirror real world experiences and let learners apply the content in various contexts.
Resources
The Value of Multimedia in Learning
http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/thinktank/valuemedia/The_Value_of_Multimedia.pdf
Multimedia Learning: E-Learning Design and Development
http://multimedialearning.com/
4 Multimedia Learning Principles that will Improve Your Slides
Leveraging Multimedia for Learning
http://www.adobe.com/products/captivate/pdfs/captivate_leveraging_multimedia.pdf
The Effects of Multimedia on Learning in Third World Children
