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Applying the Modality Principle Chapters 611Media Element Principles of E-Learning1. Multimedia2. Contiguity3. Modality4. Coherence5. Redundancy6. PersonalizationModality PrincipleWhich is better for student learning?A. Spoken narration & animationB. On-screen text & animationExample: Verbal description of lightning process is presented either in audio or text

As the air in this updraft cools, water vapor condenses into water droplets and forms a cloud.Words as Narration

As the air in this updraft cools, water vapor condenses into water droplets and forms a cloud.Words as On-Screen TextModality effect: People learn better when words are presented asnarration (dark bars) rather than as on-screen text (white bars).204060801000Percent correctAnimation with narrationAnimation with textModality PrincipleWhich is better for student learning?A. Spoken narration & animationB. On-screen text & animationExample: Verbal description of lightning process is presented either in audio or textA. Spoken narration & animationWhy?Presenting text & animation at the same time can overload visual working memory & leaves auditory working memory unused.

Working Memory Explanation of ModalityWhen visual information is being explained, better to present words as audio narration than onscreen textEvidence for ModalityTested in variety of settings w/ large effect sizesInteractive environmentsHigh school classroom environmentsMultiple domainsEye-tracking studiesMost beneficial for:Less skilled learnersWhen material is complexWhen material is fast-paced and/or cannot be controlled by learner21 experiments showing its effectiveness (43 if unpublished sources included)Domains: how brakes work, how lightning forms, mathematics, electrical engineeringFast-paced or complex lots of essential processing, so reducing the extraneous processing is especially important8Exceptions to the Modality PrincipleOn-screen text + narration when:Technical terms, vocabulary, equationsGiving directions so learners can refer backSome redundancy is desirableNo narration is acceptable when:Pace of material can be controlled by learnerMaterial is easyThere is only textual information and no visuals

Which principles are being applied?10Example: How a Bicycle Pump WorksExplained with audio alone

Explained with audio & graphics

Which principle(s) apply? 11

Example: How Brakes WorkExplained with words alone12

Explained with words & graphicsWhich principles apply?

Which of the principles we have discussed so far might depend on results of a CTA?Multimedia?Contiguity?Modality?18END19

Example Animation

Potential violation since the learner has to split their attention between the two competing visuals?21

Muscle Contractions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ309LfHQ3M

Some questions: Would this have been better as still frames? Too much terminology to keep track of as the video progressed?23Support for Design PrinciplesMany design principles proposedToo few have theoretical rationalesEven fewer have been validated in multiple replicated studiesMayers work is great examplePrinciples in book dont cover every issueBut, are great examples of kind of theoretical & experiment support that is needed for principles