Multimedia learning is the process of learning through the use of multimedia presentations and teaching methods, usually in a classroom or similarly structured environment. This can be applied to almost any subject, and almost any type of learning process can be achieved or enhanced with the careful use of multimedia materials. Multimedia learning is frequently linked to the use of technology in the classroom, as technological advancements have made multimedia integration easier and more complete.
In general, the term “multimedia” refers to any type of application or activity that presents information using various types of media or formats. Multimedia learning in education typically refers to the use of various types of media to teach a lesson or to supplement a lesson with additional examples or activities for students. This type of learning can be as simple as having students use computer software to create simulations in a physics class, or as complex as having students use film clips of footage shot during World War II while learning about the war in a history class.
Multimedia learning and technology are frequently linked because technological advancements make the use of various media easier and less expensive for schools and teachers. The use of overhead projectors in the classroom exemplifies this. These projectors initially allowed teachers to go beyond the limitations of the chalkboard and present ideas in writing in a way that the entire class could see. Modern smart boards and digital projectors, on the other hand, have advanced beyond the older projectors, allowing a teacher to type on a computer and have it displayed for the entire room to see.
This type of multimedia learning can also include a teacher seamlessly incorporating video clips or computer-based interactive presentation software into a lesson. Multimedia learning, on the other hand, goes beyond passive learning by allowing students to interact with computer software and video or audio presentations to further their understanding. Some students, for example, may be able to learn about the human body through lectures and illustrations in books depicting the various body systems.
However, for some students, the ability to use a computer program that provides a digital model of the human body and how each system is interconnected can be far more beneficial. Especially since the students can interact with the model and view each system separately and together from a variety of angles and perspectives. One of the cornerstones of multimedia learning is the effort to provide students with learning tools and then allow them to learn in the way that is most meaningful to them.