Can multimedia meet tertiary educational needs better than the conventional lecture? A case study

Educational researchers have long derided the university lecture as an effective mode of delivery of educational materials, but currently there are many reports on the advantages offered by computer. In this study a multimedia solution was sought to replace existing face to face lectures because it appeared to offer a close ‘media versus need’ match. Consequently, a decision was made to develop a design template for an interactive computer based program that would be suitable for a range of subject content. In order to personalise the instruction, a large video insert was incorporated as the main screen’s most prominent design feature. From here the learner could navigate to support material including interactive simulations. The program was piloted with a small group of students and, in particular, the student tracking data that the program automatically generates yield some interesting learning style information.

[1]  Lee W. Andresen.  Issues in Text Design and Layout for Computer Based Communications , 1991 .

[2]  Binh Pham,et al.  Quality evaluation of educational multimedia systems , 1998 .

[3]  Susan J. Bennett,et al.  Interactive multimedia learning in physics , 1996 .

[4]  Stanley R. Trollip,et al.  Computer-Based Instruction: Methods and Development , 1985 .

[5]  L. L. Velle.  Constructivist Learning Environments: Case Studies in Instructional Design , 1998 .

[6]  A. N. Oppenheim.  Questionnaire Design and Attitude Measurement , 1966 .

[7]  Gennaro Pellone,et al.  Educational software design: A literature review , 1995 .

[8]  Rod Sims,et al.  An interactive conundrum: Constructs of interactivity and learning theory , 2000 .

[9]  D. Bligh.  What's the Use of Lectures? , 1971 .

[10]  Barbara A. Sawrey,et al.  Multimedia Chemistry Lectures , 1994 .

[11]  Annie Y. W. Nicholson,et al.  Managing the Development and Production of Interactive Multimedia Courseware in Education. , 1996 .

[12]  P. Greenfield,et al.  Cognitive socialization by computer games in two cultures: inductive discovery or mastery of an iconic code , 1994 .

[13]  A. Ross,et al.  Teaching in Higher Education Series , 1979 .

[14]  C. McLoughlin.  The implications of the research literature on learning styles for the design of instructional material , 1999 .

[15]  Hermann A. Maurer,et al.  Lecturing Technology: A Future with Hypermedia , 1994 .

[16]  Frank Kappe,et al.  Hyper-G: A Universal Hypermedia System. , 1993 .

[17]  W. Lambert Gardiner.  Using Hypermedia To Turn University Teaching Inside Out. , 1993 .

[18]  Judith .QBell Judith Bell,et al.  Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-time Researchers , 1993 .

[19]  Keith Rees.  Design issues in computer-based education , 1995 .

[20]  Hilary Goodall,et al.  Writing For The Computer Screen , 1988 .

[21]  Frank Costin,et al.  Lecturing versus Other Methods of Teaching: A Review of Research , 1972 .

[22]  Annette Lamb,et al.  Multimedia and the teaching-learning process in higher education , 1992 .

[23]  Loretta L. Jones,et al.  Can Multimedia Instruction Meet Our Expectations , 1992 .

[24]  J. Hartley.  Designing electronic text: The role of print-based research , 1987 .

[25]  John Barker,et al.  The Interactive Learning Revolution: Multimedia in Education and Training , 1990 .