Multimedia and redundancy

Media redundancy means providing the same information in many ways so a user can choose to leave some media redundant. If a sound file and text transcript are provided some will read, some will listen and some will do both.

Multimedia delivery via the www enables us to embrace a rational of providing cognitive and media redundancy; we can harness the potential of digital text, graphics, video and audio to presenting learners with engaging and highly relevant, multi sensory learning experiences, which include a high level of interactivity, embrace instructivist and constructivist elements and encourage generative activity.

One man's rubbish is another man's treasure - we are individuals; unique with our own mental landscapes, perceptual and conceptual constructs, we act and react differently in response to the same stimuli. Defining a "best way" an "optimal learning methodology" and applying it to a whole population will only be best for those who it suits, others may become detached or uninspired as their preferred methodology is not available. Some people like to be told, some like to find out for themselves, some like to be tested and measured others to be self-directed and self assessed. Continual learning based in any one methodology can become routine and mundane. Learners, no matter how enthusiastic, do get bored so it is appropriate to vary not only the subject matter but also the presentational style and learning methodology.

Well-designed learning activities utilising multimedia have been shown to engage and immerse users in their learning experience and to promote the state of flow; where a learner feels in tune with their activity. Flow (Csikszentmihalyi. 1992, Ramondt. 1998).) is seen as an optimal state of mind for learning where the learner experiences a deep absorption through immersion in the learning process. Flow, or optimal experience, depends on many factors including the learners’ attitudes and learning style, achieving a balance between the perceived challenge and the learner’s skills, a comfortable learning environment, delivery methodology and an appropriate level of complexity.