Topic 4 blog is about multimedia learning using objects and artifacts. During this week’s activities, I learned how to use canvas tools to develop infographics and posters. Exposure to instructional design is essential for developing teaching content using multimedia. Using design models helps to organize relevant pedagogical setups to achieve the required instructional goals. Design is not only a process but a framework of presenting thoughts through pictures, charts, tables, graphs, and other multimedia products (DeBell, 2019). I designed an infographic on multimedia learning using canvas during the class activity, as shown in Figure 1. Canvas is a great instructional design tool because it makes learning attractive and facilitates thoughts organization through infographics, posters, A4 documents, Instagram posts, and presentations. The products developed using this tool can be shared with colleagues in a learning network.

I also learned different design theories, including multimodality, SWOT analysis, backward design, gamification, learner-centered elaboration, ARCS model of motivation, and ADDIE model. The most appealing of all was the learner-centered theory that focuses on developing software for different learning groups who scaffold while learning while at the same time executing constructivist activities. The original contributors to this theory are Kenneth Hay, Elliot Soloway, and Mark Guzdian.

Image courtesy of Unsplash images

The learnertheory emphasizes the need to support learners’ motivation by learning in different groups with common needs and learning characteristics. For example, organizing pedagogical instructions for groups that learn better through pictures rather than words and another group that learn better through videos/charts/pictures (Kurt, 2015). The design is also adaptive in that scaffolds change depending on the learner’s needs at any particular moment, as shown in Figure 2. For example, if a learner needs additional support, the software can generate feedback to engage the learner and help them master a specific skill.  

References

DeBell, A. (2019, December 11). How to Use Mayer’s 12 Principles of Multimedia Learning. Water Bear Learning. http://waterbearlearning.com/mayers-principles-multimedia-learning/

Kurt, S. “Instructional Design Models and Theories,” in Educational Technology, December 9, 2015. Retrieved from https://educationaltechnology.net/instructional-design-models-and-theories/