Day 2. Trainees will understand the advantages and limitations of interactive media in preparation for classroom website building.
ACTIVITY: Website Evaluation Activity
OK. Now that we've explored the instructional principles behind online learning environments and the instructional strategies and practices that make online learning an effective classroom tool, its time to explore the advantages and limitations of interactive media can have in the classroom.
THE ASSIGNMENT:
1. Review the table below which compares the limitations and advantaes of multimedia in teh classroom.
2. Explore the University of Oregon's portfolio of instructional interactive media.
3. Pick your favorite site. Consider whether the site applies to your level (elementary or secondary) and content area.
4. Use Kathy Schrock's Teacher Website Evaluation Form to evaluate the website in order to assess the advantages and limitations of our particular site.
Interactive Multimedia: Advantages and Overcoming Limitations
ADVANTAGES
Better learning and retention
Interactive multimedia provides multiple learning modalities and actively involves the learner.
Addresses different learning styles and preferences
The incorporation of multiple modalities provides opportunities for teaching individual learners. Example -- Those with weak reading skills can use aural and visual skills to process verbal information.
Effectiveness across learning domains
Interactive multimedia instruction has been shown to be effective in most learning domains. It can present simulations that provide opportunities for problem-solving and higher-order thinking skills, and even to address affective components of learning.
Realism
Interactive multimedia provides a high degree of realism. Instead of merely reading about a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, students can actually see and hear the speech as originally presented.
Motivation
Learners show consistently positive attitudes toward interactive multimedia. For today’s MTVconscious youth, multimedia instruction is a natural avenue for exploring the information revolution.
OVERCOMING LIMITATIONS
Limited modalities
Limited bandwidth makes realtime information transmission impractical, but this limitation has forced instructors to become better organized and more reflective.
Limited imagination
Most software has limited capacity for genuine interaction with learners. Most computer-based instruction relies on simple multiple choice or true-false questions for assessing the learner’s progress. It does not have the diagnostic capability of a good instructor. But this forces instructors to be creative, to find learning activities that do not rely on simple assessment tools.
Equipment requirements
Although equipment is becoming standardized, and multimedia capabilities are built into operating systems like Windows, problems remain in getting everyone hooked up to all of the capabilities of the Web, especially those with older equipment. But hardware and software costs can be included in financial aid applications, and through University licenses, both can be purchased at reduced prices. Also, students can download free software.
Start-up costs
Some students cannot afford to purchase the technology needed to participate in computer-based instruction, but such technology is already considered to be standard course material. Students are expected to own computers or use campus computer labs.
Entertainment value might outweigh educational value
The computer and the Web aretime sinks, with diversions that can interrupt concentrated and focused study and work. However, such distractions can be overcome by putting responsibility for learning on the student. Instructors can then create activities that actively involve students. Example – After students have read a chapter in the assigned text, query them about the content. (FSU, 2009)
