Multimedia

Studies suggest that thoughtfully-integrated audio and video can be effective tools for use in education (Hsin & Cigas, 2013; Kay, 2012; Lloyd & Robertson, 2012). We have a  range of resources to help you create high-quality audio and video objects on location, in the studio, in the Instructional Studios, or in our post-production facilities. 

Recommendations as you consider using audio and video media in your course (Brame, 2015): 

• Keep it short. 6-9 minutes is recommended based on related data (Guo, Kim, & Robin, 2014). 
  
• Be conversational. This encourages social connection and engagement (Mayer, 2008). 
  
• Use a quick pace and enthusiastic tone. Learner engagement increases as narrator's speaking pace increases (Guo et al., 2014). 
  
• Personalize when possible. Learner engagement decreases when viewing an experience intended for someone else (e.g., recorded session for another class) (Guo et al., 2014). 
  

Consider these tips (Brame, 2015; Garcia Serrato, 2016; Mayer, 2008): 

• Activate Prior Knowledge – Provide a mini-concept refresher, have class dialogue on previous topics and their relation to the media piece, ask learners to answer several questions related to relevant prior content individually, or use the one-minute paper activity. 
  
• Provide a Clear Purpose for Viewing/Listening – This can be provided conversationally or scaffolded through guiding questions or guided notes. 
  
• Ensure Accessibility – Check our Digital Content Accessibility Checklist for tips.  

• Signal – Highlight important information, remembering that everything can't be important. 
  
• Segment – Chunk information in short segments so viewers/listeners can access what they need quickly. 
  
• Weed – Reduce extraneous cognitive load such as complex backgrounds, competing music, or visual elements that do not serve a clear purpose to the content or style. 
  
• Match Modality – Use auditory and visual channels in a complementary, but not redundant, fashion. For instance, if explaining how to work through a problem, show that on screen or on a reference document. 
  
• Pause to Help Learners Reflect/Apply - Insert interactive questions into the media, or just pause for comment or commentary. 
  
• Allow Learner Control When Possible - Include a table of contents to aid navigation, provide access to video controls to pause, offer tools to annotate, etc. 

• Tie to a Follow-Up Assignment - Help learners crystallize and apply active learning strategies such as turn-and-talk, watch-think-write, concept mapping, applied cases, practice problems, related multimedia projects, etc. 

• Ready to record creative media? Please reference the following resources: 
• Learning Media Production Services and Examples
  
• CIS Instructional Studios Overview
  
• Schedule a time with CIS staff to discuss creative media production.