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.