Introduction
In this module, we learned about the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning by looking at its various principles. The primary focus of this theory is to explain how one learns and consumes information to help make media and learning tools that help create a more effective learning experience.
Reflections
Out of all the theories we learned, I found that the Reduancy principal quite intuitive.
The Reduancy principal states that redunanta metrails interfears rather than facilititates learning. Due to this one must avoid repeating information as it creates a extratanious load.
Extraneous load is described as the cognitive effort that does not help the learner towards the goal of retaining and processing the information, and often arises from poorly designe.
I find this intutive as I have experinced this coginitve load in life. I find that I do better in courses with simple lecture presentations with less texts, more graphics and more narration rather than those with very comprehensive slides and comprehensve lectures,
The principal that suprised me the most was coherence principle. According to this principal one must only add including text, narration and graphics that directly relate to the learning, and promote the use of simple visuals and the avoidance of distractions such as background music. Unnecessary materials distracts from the learning material. Robert Mayer warns against the inclusion of what he describes as ‘seductive details’, which include all information that is purely included to be interesting, but is irrelevant. This information is often retained more than the actual learning material because it is eye catching or emotion inducing; taking away from the lesson at hand.
I often assumed that adding intresting titbits and facts can help making material more fun and imporve learning.
Screencast
Screencasting is a tool that I have used in the past. In this post I screencast giving a tuorial of Canva making a basic inforgraphic.
To make sure the presentation is effective, I have eliminated unnecessary details ( to reduce extrinsic load).
I have also broken one complicated bigger step into multiple mini-steps following the principal of segmentation to make the intrinsic load lighter making the screencast easier to navigate.
The tutorial was in simple easy to underrated language with all the basic details.