Background: Emotional design of multimedia lessons involves adding features that are intended to increase learner enjoyment and promote learning--such as adding narrative, anthropomorphizing non-human elements, and using warm colours. Objective: The present study extends this work to examine the potential of Japanese animation (anime) for…

Visual displays, such as illustrated web pages, animations, and simulations, can both aid and pose challenges for learners. The first generation of educational research on visuals focused on the basic processes underlying comprehension. A second generation of research tested various instructional supports for visual displays, and this research was…

The main goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of an animation and visualization of data structures (AVDS) tool on both perceptions and objective test performance. The study involved a rigorous experiment that assessed the usability, acceptability, and effectiveness of the AVDS tool in solving exercises. A total of 78 participants…

Financial literacy is crucial for making sound financial decisions and living a better life. However, the field of finance is full of abstract concepts, such as inflation, liquidity, asset allocation and credit. Abstract concepts may be harder to comprehend than concrete concepts due to their lack of tangible referents in the physical world. In…

The educational benefit of the traditional didactic lecture to learners in Higher Education is hotly debated. Given increasing student numbers, existing technical set ups and many logistical concerns, lectures remain the norm in many Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). In this personal view piece, we discuss the benefits, opportunities, and…

Multimedia is ubiquitous in 21st-century education. Cognitive load theory and the cognitive theory of multimedia learning both postulate that the quality of multimedia design heavily influences learning. We sought to identify how to best design multimedia and review how well those learning theories held up to meta-analyses. We conducted an…

The present study compared a Whiteboard animation with a PowerPoint slideshow. A presentation in each style was analysed in detail for compliance to Mayer's (2014) twelve multimedia principles and Kosslyn, Kievit, Russel and Shephard's (2012) eight cognitive communication principles. An experiment is reported that compared the effects of each…

Earth science concepts can be challenging for children to grasp due to their abstract nature. This study explores the potential of 3D computer animation as an engaging and effective medium to communicate various earth science processes to young learners. By creating age-appropriate, scientifically accurate visualizations of geological features and…

Despite the widespread use of whiteboard animations in both academic and informal settings, little evidence exists about their efficacy and impact on learner experiences, especially in non-STEM fields such as the social sciences. This study examined the effects of whiteboard animations against three other instructional formats on comprehension,…

This paper determined the relative effect of animated and non-animated powerpoint (PPT) presentations on students' achievement in physics. A non-equivalent group quasi-experimental research design was adopted for the study, using a sample of 88 senior secondary two students drawn from secondary schools in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu…

This study investigated the effect of visual anthropomorphic stories on students' understanding of the particulate nature of matter and their level of anthropomorphic discourse. This study employed a quasi-experimental research design with pretest and posttest control groups. Science activities supported by visual anthropomorphic stories were…

In this paper, MTL, an approach for visualization-based pedagogy, is analyzed and contextualized in both Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) and Dual Coding Theory (DCT). Through MTL, lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions and individual study in learning and teaching programming are all carried out using two cognitive channels; verbal and non-verbal.…

The research on students' perceptions after implementing a teaching style is recommended due to its potential to inform reformed education. The present study surveyed 319 students and revealed their perceptions of multimedia usage in teaching and learning quantum physics. Among these students, 156 were surveyed after learning quantum physics with…

In two separate experiments, the authors investigated how a complex animated basketball scene should be designed in order to avoid the high cognitive load due to the transient nature of information. Using system-paced segments and decreasing the video's presentation speed were tested as instructional strategies to reduce students' cognitive load.…

COVID-19 has shown us what it means to be isolated, disconnected and alone. As the post-pandemic academic world rebuilds itself, we will need to get serious about communicating diversity, inclusion and belonging to an ever-wider group of people in education. Visual communication is the key to conveying universally understood content that is highly…