Multimedia is media that utilizes a combination of different content forms displayed or accessed using computerized or electronic devices.  In Education, multimedia resources allow the user to go through a series of presentations, text and associated illustrations about a particular topic in various information formats. Learning theory in the past decade has expanded dramatically because of the introduction of multimedia resulting in the development of specific areas of research (e.g. Cognitive load, Multimedia learning).

Multimedia represents the convergence of text, pictures, video and sound into a single form. The power of multimedia and the Internet lies in the way in which information is linked.  Multimedia and the Internet require a completely new approach to writing. The style of writing that is appropriate for the 'on-line world' is highly optimized and designed to be able to be quickly scanned by readers.  A good site must be attractive and innovative in its design, function in terms of its purpose, easy to navigate, frequently updated and fast to download.

References:

Wikipedia.  Multimedia.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimedia#Education  (retrieved March 11, 2009)

Links to Resources

Below are links to a number of web-based resources.   The title of the resource plus a brief description of the content is provided.

Software Applications

Marvin

Marvin is the application software students are encouraged to use to create multimedia learning objects.  It is an award winning training, education and presentation authoring application that uses customised 3D animated characters to communicate important information to the chosen target audience.  Click on “Marvin Examples” to explore the sort of learning objects that can be created using the software.

http://www.marvin.com.au/ (retrieved April 30, 2009)

Design Principles

Digital Web Magazine: The Principles of Design

This website provides a comprehensive discussion of the fundamental principles of design and their application to Web design.  It also provides links to related resources on the web.

http://www.digital-web.com/articles/principles_of_design/ (retrieved March 11, 2009)

Web Design for Instruction: Multimedia and Web Page Design Principles

This page provides guidelines for multimedia and web page design and how the five principles of design, simplicity, consistency, clarity, balance, harmony and unity, should be applied .

http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/skaalid/page/design/webdsgn.htm (retrieved March 11, 2009)

Bokardo.com: Five Principles to Design By

Bokardo is a blog about interface design for social web sites and applications.  This post forms the impetus for a comprehensive discussion concerning principles that should be considered in web design.

http://bokardo.com/archives/five-principles-to-design-by/ (retrieved March 11, 2009)

About.Com: Desktop Publishing: Web Design Tutorials

Provides links to a number of tutorials, considerations and tips on website design.

http://desktoppub.about.com/od/electronicpublishing/Web_Design_Tutorials.htm (retrieved March 11, 2009)

Theoretical Perspectives

Web Design for Instruction: Multimedia

This website provide links to a number of sections which focus on research on the use of multimedia and when it is appropriate to use animation, video and audio in a multimedia learning object.

http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/skaalid/media/media.htm (retrieved March 11, 2009)

A Critical Discourse in Multimedia Design: A Pedagogical Perspective to Creating Engaging Online Courseware

This paper discusses how multimedia instructional strategies and processes can be enhanced by incorporating the principles of cognitive psychology in the design phases.

http://www.usq.edu.au/electpub/e-jist/docs/Vol7_no2/FullPapers/CriticalDisc_MM.htm (retrieved March 11, 2009)

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