Video

When creating this week's Moovly video project, I gave special consideration to those with visual/spatial and musical/rhythmic intelligence. When creating my slides, I made sure I included several pictures and spaced them in a way that was visually pleasing and easy to follow. In my use of multiple pictures, I made sure they were equal or complimentary sizes and aligned them evenly so as to avoid distracting and detracting from my message. When adding my impactful music clip, I made sure to fade the first sound clip out before fading the new music clip in. That way, it was pleasing to the ears and again, complimentary to my video's message as opposed to distracting.

Cynthia Brame's article entitled Effective Educational Videos provided very relevant tips for considering cognitive load, active learning, and engagement domain when creating video content. In terms of student engagement, Cynthia reminds us that "if the students don't watch the videos, they can't learn from them" (Brame, 1970). In order to make my video engaging, I followed this advice by keeping my video short and speaking with enthusiasm. 

In Ljubojevic, Vaskovic, Stankovic, and Vaskovic's study entitled Using Supplementary Video in Multimedia Instruction as a Teaching Tool to Increase Efficiency of Learning and Quality of Experience, I was reminded that using educational videos can influence motivation, satisfaction, and success in learning. "In order to efficiently process multimedia information it is necessary to select relevant information and organize it into a verbal and pictorial model" (Ljubojevic et al., 2014). As soon as I read this quote, I knew that my video would need to have carefully selected photos that help tell the story. I spent time making sure that each photo was engaging and matched the timeline and written content. 

References:

Brame, C. (1970, August 17). Effective educational videos. Vanderbilt University. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/effective-educational-videos/#engage  

Ljubojevic, M., Vaskovic, V., Stankovic, S., & Vaskovic, J. (2014, June 30). Using supplementary video in multimedia instruction as a teaching tool to increase efficiency of learning and quality of experience. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://eric.ed.gov/?q=advantages%2Band%2Bdisadvantages%2Bof%2Bdistance%2Blearning&pg=1557&id=EJ1033049

Multimedia Development

My multimedia product appeals to both Spatial and Naturalist intelligence. Spatial intelligence is defined by its aptitude for understanding visual information. I worked hard to ensure a natural visual flow to my multimedia product and selected pictures that expanded on the written descriptions. Naturalist intelligence is defined by a sensitivity to features of the natural world. I was very intentional about including nature-themed photos and links to further explore Mayan culture and architecture. 

My multimedia product supports the Coherence and Spatial Contiguity Multimedia Principles. 

• Coherence Principle: Understanding that people focus better when the information presented is free from superfluous details, I carefully selected photos that conveyed the correct objectives and, in the end, eliminated quite a few that only served to distract my audience. 
• Spatial Contiguity Principle: It is important that text and graphics are placed in such a way that the viewer can create the correct connections between them. Much of my time on this project was spent making sure the layout made it very natural to follow my presentation. I worked hard to ensure that photos in each section were aligned, equally sized, and broken up by bodies of text. You will notice that I even used directional arrows for an embedded video as well as a photo. I was unsure if the viewer would easily identify these graphics and wanted to make sure these connections were easy to follow. 

Multimedia

Multimedia Defined

Multimedia refers to the method with which information is conveyed and displayed using a variety of resources such as text, graphics, drawings, images, video, animation, and sound. Applications fall into three categories: information systems (eg. online gallery), remote representation (eg. zoom meetings), and entertainment (eg. digital television).  Although it can be time-consuming to include in your instruction, it has many benefits for learning. Multimedia enhances the presentation of information and helps to engage your students by creating interactive learning experiences. Infusing multimedia into your lessons provides multisensory opportunities for students with varying intelligence types. It also creates access to instruction where it previously may not have existed through video conferencing applications or video libraries. Multimedia can improve a learners' motivation and enhance their understanding. 

Multimedia Principles and Their Implementation:

Coherence Principle: People focus better when the information presented is free from superfluous details. It is important when designing a multimedia project that you use images, videos, animation, and sound that supports what you are trying to teach rather than options that will simply serve to distract from your learning objectives. Your selection of multimedia should be limited to only those essential for conveying the correct objectives.

Signaling Principle: Lessons should be organized with indicators that draw the learners' attention to important material. When designing a multimedia project, be sure to use headings, bulleted lists, italics, and bolded font to help your learners take note of key thoughts and words.

Voice Principle: The human voice, as opposed to a robotic voice, creates a deeper understanding and primes a sense of social presence in learners. This could very easily be accomplished when designing a multimedia project by using your voice to record instructions for an assignment. It is important to always use a pleasant voice that exudes warmth. 

Spatial Contiguity Principle: Text and graphics should be appropriately placed on the screen so that the learner can build the correct connections between them. When designing a multimedia project, time should be given to spatial considerations, and text used to enhance graphics should be positioned in a way that develops the right connections. 

Modality Principle: Multimedia messaging is more impactful when spoken rather than printed. This can be accomplished by carefully selecting audio and video that aligns with your learning objectives when possible. 

Embodiment Principle: Human-like action (gesturing, facial expressions, etc.) create a sense of social presence and help students learn deeper. This can be accomplished by selecting interactive multimedia that employ agents who narrate using gestures and animated facial expressions. It is important that the teacher also maintains eye contact and employs warm gestures when instructing their students.

Web 2.0 Meets Multiple Intelligences: 

1. Vimeo is a platform that helps you create and post videos. Musical intelligences would benefit from this platform as it would allow them to create and record music. Bodily/Kinesthetic learners would also enjoy demonstrating their knowledge by acting out an assignment on video rather than sitting in their chairs and completing a multiple choice test or writing a book report. 
2. ooVoo is a community driven, instant messaging and video call application. Interpersonal intelligences would benefit from this tool as it brings a social aspect to learning and makes collaboration easy. 
3. Ology is an amazingly interactive platform provided by the American Museum of Natural History. It provides science-related games, videos and hands-on activities. Naturalist intelligences would benefit from this tool as it provides ample opportunity to recognize and classify species, planets, climates, and more! Logical/mathematical intelligences would also enjoy many of the games and puzzles offered on this platform. 

When designing a website, it is important that the web designer selects multimedia that takes into consideration the potential multiple intelligences of their target audience. Web design, multimedia and Multiple Intelligence theory can form a symbiotic relationship when paired appropriately. The result is effective and engaging instructional content that contributes to your learner's success. 

Web Design

Website Link: MGBD Parts & Services

Website Critique

• Precedence (Guiding the Eye) - Upon arrival at the homepage, my eyes have no idea where they are supposed to go. I am immediately overwhelmed by the overused image spanning the left side of the page. Next, I am then drawn to not one, but two scrolling bars of varying sizes. The web designer’s use of color and contrast makes EVERYTHING stand out on the page which creates an immediately overwhelming experience. There is no introduction or mission statement to inform visitors of what this page is meant to accomplish. An inordinate and distracting number of car images are used with little to no relevance or function. In the end, everything appears to be a "feature", while really, nothing is.

• Spacing - There are several examples of poor spacing throughout this website, some of which make the message impossible to read. The text is inappropriately padded making several places unreadable. Not only is the font small, but the line spacing is incredibly thin making it difficult for the eye to follow. Some text is centered inside of boxes while other text is left aligned and runs right up to the edge (as on this page). The lack of predictability is very distracting and makes the page harder to follow. I would REALLY need to know about their company/product to be motivated to stay on this website.

• Navigation - Again, the page visitor is met with inconsistency. Some page links open in a new window, while others do not. There does not seem to be any clear justification as to why these links were designed this way. With regards to orientation, some links make navigation back to the home screen very easy (one click), while others do not. Words that are underlined are sometimes links and sometimes not. In some cases, half of a sentence is linked, and then, mid-word, the link ends. The navigation and site architecture are counterintuitive and the links are often unrecognizable creating far too many question marks for the visitor.

• These seemingly unique links take you to the same exact page. 

                                            

• Typography - Perhaps the most egregiously violated principle of this website is typography. There is absolutely no theme to the choices of font, size, spacing, line length, color or paragraphing. The homepage uses center alignment, while the online store uses left alignment. The homepage spaces its lines and letters generously while the online store line spacing is small and tight. The font changes colors at unexpected moments with absolutely no discretion, making it very distracting and hard to follow. It makes the content feel disjointed and fractured. The web designer surely missed the mark on "keeping it simple".

• Alignment - As the pictures above and below clearly demonstrate, images are unaligned and run into and over each other with inconsistent alignment making the overall aesthetic very unpolished. It is very obvious that someone tried to "eyeball" how things line up rather than using a grid structure. As a result, the page is very difficult to digest.

• Clarity - The principle of Clarity is also overlooked on this website. The images that are pasted like wallpaper are anything but crisp. They lack clarity and shape which creates a very "homemade" look for the website. The pixels of some images are so bad, they render the photo entirely unreadable. 

Negatively Impacted Intelligence Types:

• Linguistic Intelligence - The web designer for MGBD Parts & Services put very little thought or effort into how they expressed the company's message. People with strong linguistic intelligence have a love for language and are especially skilled at communicating. I believe they would look at this web design as a missed opportunity. It would likely have them questioning their ability to understand others. Reviewing this website would be a frustrating and disappointing experience for them.

• Spatial Intelligence - The web designer for MGBD Parts & Services gave absolutely no regard for an audience equipped with spatial intelligence. It is nearly impossible to derive insight from the visual data provided on this website. I believe that spatially skilled individuals would run screaming for the hills if faced with it. The total lack of balance and order makes this website very overwhelming and frustrating to visit.

Multiple Intelligences Theory

Research shows that intelligence is not singular in nature. Rather, human intelligence is differentiated and unique to each individual. Understanding your intelligence preference is vital to consuming content in the most effective and enjoyable modality. Thanks to the strengths assessment found at Literacynet.org, I was able to determine that my prominent intelligences are Social (Interpersonal) and Self (Intrapersonal). 

I cannot say that my results really surprised me. Regarding my interpersonal strength, I have often been referred to as a "social butterfly". While I would classify myself as a "friendly introvert", I am able to navigate social settings with ease and like to bounce ideas off of others. I quickly recognized my preference to develop ideas socially at the start of my grad school journey. Having been out of school for decades, I quickly found myself reaching out to fellow classmates to solidify my understanding of assignments. It was my classmate's responses to discussion threads that quickly and easily identified who I would work best with.  

Regarding my intrapersonal strength, I have also been content to work independently and prefer to reflect on new ideas before speaking to anyone about my resolutions. My husband would definitely be able to attest to this. We have been married for ten years and, while we refer to them as disagreements/discussions rather than fights, we often view things from our own unique perspectives. While he is able to speak passionately in the "here and now", I prefer to mull things over and return to the subject later. 

Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences was first proposed in 1983. Although this theory existed prior to the start of my early childhood education, I did not experience any adaptations to my learning experience. Lessons were largely teacher-led and lecture-based. When I reflect on my early report cards I recall my instructors referring to me as "chatty" or "distracting". I even received detention once as a result of talking with a classmate in an effort to refine my understanding of an assignment. While I do understand that there is a "time and place" for commentary, I did not feel that my learning experiences offered enough collaboration with classmates. Ultimately, the negative reinforcement from teachers shaped my perception of self and inhibited me from exercising my interpersonal intelligence. Had my instructors provided more structured, collaborative learning opportunities, I think I would have developed this skill much more organically. Instead, I learned to read the needs/desires of my instructor and pushed myself to learn independently for fear of discipline or notes to my parents. 

Thankfully, my educational experience did, indirectly, cultivate opportunities for me to build my intrapersonal intelligence. As I was consistently reinforced to keep my thoughts and comments to myself, I naturally became more self-reflective. When I contemplate my primary education, I recall frequent time blocks in the day where the class was asked to work quietly and independently. These opportunities became vital for me to mull over new information and truly absorb what I was learning. I remember realizing that I learned better through homework than through classroom lectures. This knowledge of self helped me when choosing an online Master's program, as much of the work is independent. 

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences emphasizes the importance of considering your audience prior to designing your website. So often time is spent on the message and the content rather than who will be consuming it and how it should be delivered. My strengths lead me to blogs, social media, and discussion forums that afford me both interpersonal and intrapersonal opportunities. It is important for content creators to remember that each person relies on different and various types of intelligence preferences. The first step should always be knowing your audience.

  

Please enjoy this photo of me working "independently" on a nap in Pre-K

The classroom "chatty Kathy"