Evaluating Media
Characteristics
Using multimedia to achieve
learning outcomes
Definition
 A means of effecting or conveying
something
 A channel of communication
 A condition/environment permitting
something to flourish
Overview
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Text
Audio
Visuals
Video
Software
Live/F2F
Collaborative
Integration
Role of Text
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Positives:
Surveyable
Easy to produce
Low bandwidth
Familiar
Many readers
Not much
specialization
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Negatives:
Overused
Passive
100% learner
motivation
Time lag
Text
Our experience
 Paper and digital
 Manuals
 Chat, discussion
 Learning materials
 Knowledge sharing – i.e. “blogging”
Text
Learning outcomes
 Simple to complex
 Suited to synthesis/evaluation
 Reflection – due to time lag
Role of Audio
Positives:
 Two-way interaction
 Enrich a text only course
 Useful for explanations,
accessibility,
pronunciations
 Great for auditory learners
 Speed – faster than typing
(and less inhibitive)
Negatives:
 Easy to tune out
 Text read – limits pace
– user needs to be able
to disable
 Need professional
“voice”
 Extended audio needs
to be indexed –
time/expense
Audio
Our experience
 VoIP – PalTalk, Groove
 Polycom
 Audio pronunciations
Audio
Learning outcomes
 Across spectrum
 Presentation
 Explanations
 Dialogue
 Analysis
 Synthesis
Role of Visuals
Positives:
 Abundance
 Low cost (if using
clipart/digital camera)
 Versatile – use for any
learning task
 Low bandwidth (if done
right)
 Enrich learning material
Negatives:
 Can be poor quality
 Motion/animation can be
expensive
 Time consuming
 Involved if using graphic
artist
Visuals
Our experience
 Digital pictures
 Graphics – Internet
 Graphic artist – designing
 Enriches text – “picture is worth a
thousand words”
 Animations
Visuals
Learning outcomes
 Knowledge
 Comprehension
 Explanations
 Demonstrations
 Conceptualizing abstract concepts
 Contrasting
Role of Video
Positives:
 Visual
 Personal medium
 Many viewers/large
audience
 Detail complex tasks
 Ability to review
 Increased variety – CD,
Streaming
Negatives:
 Specialized team – i.e.
producer, editor, camera
 Expensive
 Not easy to modify
 Sequential, difficult to
survey
 Passive
Video
Our experience
 Culinary Arts – 7 Courses
 Build sets, editing, reviewing
 Interruptions in “live taping”
 Instructor time commitment
 CD ROM
 Streaming – 3 month course
Video
Learning outcomes
 Demonstrations
 Explanations
 Lecture
 Complex – i.e. whiteboard – physics problem
solving
 Two way (expensive) – instructor observes
student
Software
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Positives:
Simulation
Self-paced
Re-usable
Team based
Memorable
Game-like –
“edutainment”
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Negatives:
Expensive
Time consuming
Complex to design
Team based
Added complexity for
learners
Software
Our experience
 HTML, Java, Flash, Authorware, Hot
Potatoes, LMS (TLM & WebCT)
 Simulations
 Guided lessons
 Always multi-discipline project
 Student response - excellent
Software
Learning outcomes
 Demonstrations
 Knowledge
 Broad knowledge
 Practice complex skill in safe
environment
 Synthesis
Live/F2F
Positives:
 Highly interactive
 Familiar – students
and instructors
 Effective
 Proven history
 Can incorporate
other media
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Negatives:
Only synchronous
Expensive
No “knowledge” trail
Limited audience size
Not surveyable
Live/F2F
Our experience
 Classrooms
 Lecture theatres
 Hey…we’re college instructors…what
more can we say!
Live/F2F
Learning outcomes
 Everything
 Main determinant of success is the skill
of the instructor
Collaboration:
(As a media format)
Positives:
Knowledge building
Communities
Student to student
Time on task
Ideal for online
environment
 Supplements other
media
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Negatives:
 Takes time – not ideal
for short-course training
 Difficult to do
 Change required of
student and instructor
Collaborative
Our experience
 Groove
 Communityzero
 Slow social acceptance
 Too unfamiliar
 Much rather talk about it than do it…overhyped, under done
 Control is dispersed to everyone
Collaborative
Learning outcomes
 Explanation/demonstration
 Higher order
 Synthesis, evaluation
 Deep learning, not surface
 Multiple perspectives
Integration
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Positives:
Combine best
features, minimize
weaknesses
Enriched learning
Asynchronous
Synchronous
Negatives:
 Instructors have to
combine tools to
achieve outcomes
 “Ideal” elearning tool
doesn’t exist yet
Media Integration
Contact us
George Siemens
gsiemens@elearnspace.org
204 632 2141
Steve Yurkiw
Syurkiw@rrc.mb.ca
204 632 2598