bar models and multimedia learning

Myrtle's post on bar models reminded me of an interesting interview I read with Richard Mayers, who is apparently a major researcher in the area of "multimedia learning."

Multimedia learning is much simpler than I realized: Mayers defines it as "the presentation of material using both words and pictures.”

This is the kind of research that jibes so completely with my felt experience of learning math (learning anything, really) that I'm simply going to assume it's true until someone demonstrates otherwise.

Principles:

...[I]n Multimedia Learning (Cambridge University Press, 2001), I describe some research-based principles for the design of multimedia instructional messages including the following:

• multimedia principle, in which people learn better from words and pictures than from words alone;

• coherence principle, in which people learn better when extraneous material is excluded rather than included; [ed.: RESEARCH PROVES! PAGE SPLATTER IS BAD!]
  

• contiguity principle, in which people learn better when corresponding words and pictures are presented at the same time or next to each other on the screen;
  

• modality principle, in which people learn better from animation with spoken text than animation with printed text;

• signaling principle, in which people learn better when the material is organized with clear outlines and headings; and

• personalization principle, in which people learn better from conversational style than formal style. [bullets added for emphasis]
  

For example, in designing a PowerPoint slide it is important to not present an overwhelming amount of information (i.e., coherence principle) and it is useful to have simple graphics to supplement words (i.e., multimedia principle). Finally, it is important to note that good design principles for inexperienced learners might not be the same as for experienced learners.

[snip]

Bullets don't kill learning, but improper use of bullets kills learning.

uh-oh


Cliff Atkinson interview, Richard Mayer
Multimedia Learning by Richard Mayer
Myrtle on bar models
page splatter in Trends in Cognitive Science
Doug Sundseth on page splatter (and penguins)
Glencoe page splatter
page splatter redux