The Multimedia and Contiguity Principles

The Multimedia and Contiguity Principles • EdTech 513 - Multimedia • Dr. Schroeder • by Kris Mesler NOTE: Please mouse click on each page to view presentation.

After viewing this multimedia presentation, students will be able to view pages with two examples per page and identify which example correctly uses the Multimedia and Contiguity Principles.

The Multimedia Principle • Use words and graphics rather than words alone

What does that mean? • WORDS include printed or spoken text • GRAPHICS can be static illustrations or dynamic graphics (animation or video)

Decorative Graphics • Visuals added for aesthetic appeal (todecorate) or for humor, like this photo...

Representational Graphics • Visuals that illustrate (or represent) the appearance of an object, like this...

Organizational Graphics • Visuals that show qualitative relationships among content (or organize information), like this...

Relational Graphics • Visuals that summarize quantitative relationships (or show how they relate) like this...

Transformational Graphics • Visuals that illustrate changes in time or over space (as in transform), like this...

Interpretive Graphics • Visuals that make intangible phenomena visible and concrete, like this molecule...

So, how do I best use graphics? • Select graphics that support learning • Minimize decorative and representational graphics • Incorporate transformational, interpretive, or organizational graphics to make learning easier

Graphics to Teach Concept Types

The Multimedia Effect • There is consistent evidence that people learn more deeply from words and pictures than from words alone. This is known as the “multimedia effect.”

REVIEW: The Multimedia Principle • Use words and graphics rather than words alone WORDS+ GRAPHICS= The Multimedia Principle

Contiguity Principle #1 • Place printed words near corresponding graphics

What does that mean? • On-screen words should be placed near the parts of the on-screen graphics to which they refer • Graphics and printed words need to be placed near each other on the screen

On-screen words should be placed near the parts of the on-screen graphics to which they refer

Graphics and printed words need to be placed near each other on the screen This photo of Cinderella’s castle was taken at sunset during a trip to Walt Disney World in 2009.

6 Common Violations of the Contiguity Principle

How do I remember all that?? • Create each design so that a person may find all visual information necessary close together on one clearly readable page.

REVIEW: Contiguity Principle #1 • Place printed words near corresponding graphics >>>_|text+graphics|_<<<

Contiguity Principle #2 • Synchronize spoken words with corresponding graphics

What does this mean? • Nobody likes an echo, especially when you are trying to process a presentation by seeing as well as hearing. Match the audio with the text and graphics.

Why does this matter? • Not being synchronous can cause extraneous processing by the brain or split attention, where you may lose focus of the presentation altogether.

REVIEW: Contiguity Principle #2 • Synchronize spoken words with corresponding graphics timing Spoken Words Graphics

What have you learned? • Multimedia Principle: Use words and graphics rather than words alone • Contiguity Principle #1: Place printed words near corresponding graphics • Contiguity Principle #2: Synchronize spoken words with corresponding graphics

Can you recognize the principles in action? • You will see two examples on each of the following pages. One example is using the principles correctly, while the other is not. Choose which example you think is following the Multimedia and Contiguity Principles.

Example A Example B Example A Civil War Battlefield Civil War Battlefield There are many battlefields left in the southern There are many battlefields left in the southern United States. Prairie Grove, Arkansas has several buildings and equipment that have been preserved from the Civil War. United States. Prairie Grove, Arkansas has several buildings and equipment that have been preserved from the Civil War. Which example do you think follows the Multimedia Principle best?

Example A Example B Example A Civil War Battlefield Civil War Battlefield There are many battlefields left in the southern There are many battlefields left in the southern United States. Prairie Grove, Arkansas has several buildings and equipment that have been preserved from the Civil War. United States. Prairie Grove, Arkansas has several buildings and equipment that have been preserved from the Civil War. If you chose B, you were correct! Use words and graphics together.

Example A Example B Example A This road sign welcomes you to Fayetteville, Arkansas, home of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. The university team has won many NCAA national track and field titles. This road sign welcomes you to Fayetteville, Arkansas, home of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. The university team has won many NCAA national track and field titles. Which example do you think follows the Contiguity Principle best?

Example A Example B Example A This road sign welcomes you to Fayetteville, Arkansas, home of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. The university team has won many NCAA national track and field titles. This road sign welcomes you to Fayetteville, Arkansas, home of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. The university team has won many NCAA national track and field titles. If you chose B, you are awesome! Graphics and corresponding text should be located near each other, and not underneath a graphic.

Example A Example B Example A The Greenbelt passes through downtown Boise, giving cyclists, walkers, and wildlife observers a place to relax and enjoy the scenery. The Greenbelt in Boise, Idaho The Greenbelt passes through downtown Boise, giving cyclists, walkers, and wildlife observers a place to relax and enjoy the scenery. The Greenbelt in Boise, Idaho Which example would be more helpful in learning about the Greenbelt?

Example A Example B Example A The Greenbelt passes through downtown Boise, giving cyclists, walkers, and wildlife observers a place to relax and enjoy the scenery. The Greenbelt in Boise, Idaho The Greenbelt passes through downtown Boise, giving cyclists, walkers, and wildlife observers a place to relax and enjoy the scenery. The Greenbelt in Boise, Idaho A is the best choice. It includes an organizational graphic with additional info.

Now that you have seen correct examples, practice on your own lesson presentations. Be sure to review this Multimedia and Contiguity Principles presentation as needed for information.

Image credits • “Equipment” by paprutzi* • “Flow Chart” by Phillie Casablanca* • “Bar Graph” by Kevin Hengli* • “Life Cycle” by Vik Nanda* • “Molecule” by p-a-h* • “Mitosis”- www.accessexcellence.org • All other images by Kris Mesler • *- Creative Commons images under 3.0 unported license (with attribution)

Print Source • Clark, Ruth Colvin, Mayer, Richard E. (2008). e-Learning and the Science of Instruction (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Pfeiffer - An Imprint of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The Multimedia and Contiguity Principles