Category: edci337-blog

This week, we have looked at topic 2 and 3, which provide a deeper explanation of multimedia and how it can be incorporated into the classroom in an effective way. As we know, each learner can have different styles of learning and will learn at a different pace than others. I found that topics 2 and 3 have confirmed that and provided us with information on how to design effective multimedia learning material.

Some of the multimedia resources that we looked at include Sketchnoting, Screen Capturing and G5P content. Sketchnoting  combines text and pictures to help people recall information and identify the main point of information being taught.  Below is an example of a Sketch note that I made while watching Kevin Alexander’s video on multimedia learning. I tend to get very focused on the appearance of my notes, so I am not sure that this method would suit me best, as I think it may become too time consuming. That being said, I still believe note taking should be precise and clear so that you can stay focused on the key points. Presenting sketchnoting material to students and also teaching them how to sketchnote would be something I would explore in my future classroom.

During the Screen Capturing Lab we used a software called TechSmith Capture. This reminded me of an app that I learned about in EDCI 336 called Screencastify. My experience with using Screencastify was slightly different, as I recall capturing my screen and taking a video while using audio. I believe Tech Smith Capture also allows you to take videos, however, for our lab I took a screenshot of my computer screen and used text, arrows and boxes to highlight and add information.  I believe this tool would be extremely useful for teachers and students when trying to focus attention to specific information on a website, student work, teacher instructions, etc. Below is an example of the screenshot I took during our lab.

As discussed in topic 3, H5P is an open source tool that can be used to create and edit videos, presentations, games and more. This was a tool that was completely new to me, so I found it interesting to learn about and consider ways that it could be incorporated into the classroom. Although this tool may end up breaking one of the multimedia principles mentioned by Kevin Alexander, it still can be used as an effective tool for students and teachers. The built in multiple choice and true and false feature are great aspect to the program. I did the H5P activity and created the following video :

As someone who is not extremely comfortable with technology, I find learning about these technology tools that incorporate multimedia very useful. Given the current restrictions due to COVID-19 I think that these tools would be very useful for teachers. That being said, I am not sure how some of these tools would translate to an elementary classroom setting without having guidance from an adult.

I was initially unsure what to expect from this class and what we would be learning about, but after watching and reading the course materials posted, I feel that I have a better understanding of the topic and what to expect. As mentioned in Mayer’s article, “multimedia learning is learning from words and pictures” (p. 1, 2014). As for interactive learning, I felt that the article provided in our readings by The Share Team gave clear explanations as to what interactive teaching looks like. The Share Team (2017) explains that without giving learning a practical application, people often fail to understand the depths of the material being taught. I hope that in this class I will learn how to promote meaningful learning in my future classroom through interactive and multimedia learning. I have already discovered some of the benefits of using technology in a classroom through EDCI 336 and found that very beneficial, so if I could combine my knowledge from that class and apply some of it to this new content that would be great.  As Rich also mentioned, not all multimedia resources are created equivalent and, with that in mind, I hope to learn about resources that are reliable and user friendly to ensure smooth and effective operation when used in the classroom.

When reflecting on my own interactive or multimedia learning experiences, I don’t have many that come to mind in my elementary or high school years that I found extremely beneficial or that I could relate with to the readings provided for this topic. I find that unfortunate because as I was reading these articles, I know that a lot of these different approaches would have benefited my learning style. For example, the article written by the Share Team (2017) provides many examples of how to incorporate different interactive teaching styles. Some that stood out to me and that I find to be more relevant to educators now than when I was in school are the following:

• Encourage student participation;
• Discussion and hands on learning experiences;
• Group work environments; and
• Think, pair and shares.

Although my education prior to university did not seem to be very focused on interactive or multimedia learning, I did find that as soon as I did start my post-secondary education these methods were incorporated, and it really helped in discovering how I learn best. With the article “The Hidden Importance of Teaching with Stories” written by Juliani (2016) in mind, I also believe storytelling to be an extremely helpful way for people to learn and understand something on a deeper level. This  link provides an example of how a BC teacher uses digital literacy in her classroom through a First Peoples’ lens and aims to make learning accessible for all students. The stories are created by students through Clicker Docs.

References:

Mayer, R. (2014). Introduction to Multimedia Learning. Retrieved from https://www-cambridge-org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/core/books/cambridge-handbook-of-multimedia-learning/introduction-to-multimedia-learning/DCB47795DE7396B0CDF134B54F03F6A5/core-reader

Juliani, A.  (2016). The Hidden Importance of Teaching With Stories. Retrieved from http://ajjuliani.com/hidden-importance-teaching-stories/

The Share Team (2018). 5 Examples of Interactive Teaching Styles: Resilient Educator. Retrieved from https://resilienteducator.com/classroom-resources/5-interactive-teaching-styles-2/