Images, Audio & Video
This week we are led to explore images, audio and the combination of the two in video.
Research from previous weeks has made it clear that students will learn better if text is accompanied by images. So here's a thumbs up for images. Also check out the Cisco report at the end of this post.
(a thumbs up re sized to 450px wide and maximised for web, in paint.Net)
We also now know that videos are quite engaging, a 'normal' information source for the digital natives and and in some cases the most effective way to pass on information.
But as I discovered each mode has its place...
The old quote 'a picture says 1000 words' (not needing to be referenced as it is classed as common knowledge) can definitely be true but I sometimes find that images are used unnecessarily in adult learning materials. Having designed materials like this myself I know I have used images that are at least 'somewhat relevant' simply to break up text. In this form images don't offer a great deal; they don't really encourage higher order thinking, but they do break things up and can help make content interesting. Much like the Photo Story images below.
More irrelevant images... My Photo Story of my hot air balloon experience many years ago. Set to some beautiful free music from Microsoft. Published via YouTube as it did not work uploading it directly.
*Photo Story was easy to use! Give it a try. As it is a drag and drop program it will be suitable for very young learners and persons with limited computer literacy. It would be a great way to capture the events of the day and I can imagine having students retell what is going on in the images. Photographic evidence is also a lot easier for younger children to participate in independently and the image can be used after capture in multiple ways. It also creates a source that can be used to extrapolate more detail or explanation after the event.
As a learner I have found images such as graphs very useful in understanding large volumes of psychology data. In this format the images are used as a summary and an alternative way to understand the data.
Overall images are powerful tools but sometimes are not used effectively. My readings this week will make me think twice and think harder about the use of images.
Audio
Audio is great for the auditory learner and those who can not read effectively (the wee little ones). And lets not forget the role music can have in learning, from the reassuring 'ding' of getting a question correct, setting the mood of a story, or helping with recall (when encoded with the same music). Initially though I debated with myself that anywhere audio could be used video could be used - and would be a better choice. I have now come to the conclusion that audio has its place as an equal with video (as well as a component of it).
Audio options like pod casts are quicker to download than videos which may not only be larger and slower but may need to be streamed Audio files can also be used 'on the run' or in the background, whereas a video demands full attention.
Video
I have said that video can be a great mechanism for teaching someone something and at first I though of this as one-way instruction, think of a video about tying shoelaces as an example. As I thought further about its applications in learning I found I was initially stuck coming up with ideas on the benefits of students presenting their work in video format, apart from it being more engaging for the viewer. Then I considered the same skills based activities that made video so great as a teaching tool and decided it would be a great way to demonstrate a skill back to the teacher/assessor, particularly a skill that normally occurs outside the classroom or needs to be demonstrated over a period of time. It may also be the perfect tool for students that are too inhibited to perform the skill in the traditional school setting.
I can imagine that too many videos would be a little exhausting though and not entirely representative of how information is handled in current workplaces and so they must be limited to remain effective and retain the engagement factor.
*As a video can be made of still images, is the ballooning Photo Story above an example of images or video? Hmmm.....
Multimodal Learning
I know that different modes of learning can be processed in parallel, and this bombarding of modes is quite normal for digital natives, but it can be distracting for digital immigrants.
I know I can multitask, so could happily listen to an interview, a recipe or lecture while driving, cooking or typing, but some people can not multitask and need to devote adequate attention for the learning to be effective. For this reason the learning designer must use multiple modes as tools to aid the learning and not have each tool trying to cover something different at once, losing some of the learners.
It is also important to remember that everyone has learning preferences and one approach will not be best for every learner in the group.
Some informal references
The effectiveness of multimodal learning can be explored further in this report:
Analysis: How multimedia can improve learning
New research sheds light on students’ ability to process multiple modes of learning
By Meris Stansbury, Assistant Editor, eSchool News
Other sources I may want to read again one day include:
Podcasting in education
Cisco report on multimodal learning, note page 12: Multimedia design - visual and verbal learning
WOW, I just wanted to read and play more! :)
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