The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of modality on learning from multimedia instruction. This study utilized a factorial between-subject design to examine the effects of modality on student learning outcomes, study patterns and mental effort. An interactive computer-presented diagram was developed to teach the places of…

Black and white television is adequate for educational purposes. Color has an advantage over black and white in that it creates more emotional involvement, but only when the material to be taught is highly visual in both content and presentation. (LS)

Describes two studies conducted in The Netherlands that compared two modes of off-air videotape use of educational television programs on mental arithmetic for elementary students. Active use of the videotapes with interruptions for interactive teaching are compared with passive, uninterrupted viewing, and implications for the design of…

Describes a CD-ROM version of a basic course in exercise physiology that was developed in the United Kingdom to overcome problems of staff time, expense, ethical considerations, and large student numbers. Compares it to a traditional course and concludes that adding more active learning approaches to the CD-ROM would enhance student learning. (LRW)

Discusses ways in which some of the principles for producing effective written text can be applied to the production of instructional audiotapes. Two experiments with university students are described that tested re-recorded audiotapes to evaluate the effectiveness of adding text design principles, and further research needs are suggested. (45…

Describes a study of nursing students in a Canadian junior college that was conducted to test the effectiveness of presenting descriptive and instructive captions on illustrations in instructional materials. Comprehension and recall of the illustrations' content are examined, and treatments for the experimental and control groups are described.…

Presents an analysis of the learning outcomes pertaining to one unit of the undergraduate television distance-education course, Information Technology, in the computer science program at University Laval (Quebec, Canada). Investigates the relative effects of television distance education versus tradition classroom teaching on learning…

Discusses the instructional effectiveness of various educational media, including illustrations; visual-based instructional media, including films, filmstrips, and television; programed learning; computer-assisted learning; audio-tutorial instruction; methods of group organization; and mastery learning methods. Research methodologies are also…

Proposes a framework to help course developers design criteria for optimal media deployment. The merits of radio, television, audio, video, and print are briefly compared with computer-based media and analyzed in light of six types of media characteristics: symbol system, access, controllability, student reactivity, interactivity, and adaptivity.…