Choosing the best media for the instructional message Media Selection Choosing the best media for the instructional message

Objectives of the session Identify types of commonly used media Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of selected media Identify factors affecting media selection Select appropriate media for delivery of instruction

Teachers of the 21st Century

Students of the 21st Century Today’s digital kids think of information and communications technology (ICT) as something akin to oxygen. They expect it. It’s what they breathe, and it’s how they live. They use ICT to meet, play, date, and learn. It’s an integral part of their social life. It’s how they acknowledge each other and form their personal identities. (Seely-Brown, 2004)

Traditional Learning 21st Century Learning Schooling Lifelong Learning Knowing (factual knowledge based learning) Understanding Broadcast/ Teacher centred / Transmission model/passive learning Constructivist / student centred L/ information exchange/ active learning Single sense stimulation / single media Multi-sensory stimulation / multimedia Traditional Content / isolated, artificial context Contemporary Content/ real world, authentic context Learning Tech Skills / individual work/ Developing 21st Century Skills / collaborative work / critical thinking

Instructional Media – The Basics Instructional media carry messages with an instructional purpose. The design of the message and the quality of teacher-learner interactions, not the medium, are what influences learning effectiveness No one medium is capable of presenting all the required learning stimuli, so use a multimedia approach.

Types of Instructional Media Audio Audio/Visual visual Tactile/ Kinaesthetic Teacher’s voice Audio cassettes Audio CDs Radio video multimedia CDs DVDs PowerPoint Internet chalkboards white boards flannel boards magnetic boards objects / models pictures charts / diagrams photographs text OH transparencies slides / silent films working models equipment simulators interactive software Classified according to sensory channels.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Media Audio Audio/Visual visual Tactile/ Kinaesthetic Advantages Inexpensive Easy to create Easy to duplicate Very Accessible Disadvantages May not be interactive No visual stimulus Advantages Very effective for introducing, summarizing and reviewing concepts Can be used as a motivational tool meets needs of students with different learning styles Complex or abstract concepts can be illustrated Disadvantages Passive learning may take place if not interactive Advantages Individualized learning Motivational Interactive Great for children who need concrete representations Provides hands-on, real life experiences

Factors Affecting Media Selection There are many media selection models and approaches (e.g. Romiszowski) The basis of media selection models are the factors affecting media choice. These factors include…

Factors Affecting Media Selection instructional method type of learning task (objectives) subject matter and required student performance learner characteristics (learning style, skills) target population – location, size teachers’ attitudes/preferences, skills etc. physical attributes of the media (sensory channels) teaching space, lighting, facilities (physical environment) practical constraints – economic (money) and administrative time , what’s available

When Should I Select ? listening skills differentiation of sounds Audio listening skills differentiation of sounds stimulation of the imagination re-telling Music or music appreciation Caution risk of misinterpretation difficult for young children Teacher’s voice Audio cassettes Audio CDs Radio

When Should I Select ? demonstration problem solving Visual & Audio/Visual chalkboards white boards flannel boards magnetic boards objects / models pictures charts / diagrams photographs text OH transparencies slides / silent films demonstration problem solving contrived experiences (realism and immediacy) To present information Caution Excess stimuli can hinder Audio and visual channels should be mutually supportive. They should not compete. video television multimedia CDs DVDs PowerPoint Internet Next

Round 75 to the nearest ten. 80 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79

75 rounds to 80 because 5 or more rounds to the next tens digit. back 75 rounds to 80 because 5 or more rounds to the next tens digit. 80 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79

Compare Compare 114 and 346

Hundreds Tens Ones 4 1 1 Hundreds Tens Ones 3 4 6

< 114 336 back

6/10 4/10 HIT 6 out of 10 MISSED 4 out of 10 2. During practice Mark tried ten foul shots. He hit six. Write fractions that represents the number of shots Mark hit and the number of shots Mark missed. Step 1: Illustrate the Problem Step 2: Solve the Problem HIT 6 out of 10 MISSED 4 out of 10 6/10 4/10 back

Using video in the classroom back

When Should I Select ? To introduce a lesson or topic Tactile/ Kinaesthetic To introduce a lesson or topic When it is convenient to use the real thing When manipulating objects can better explain the principle being taught working models equipment simulators interactive software

Convergence of technologies Driving this convergence is the powerful discovery that all information – sound, pictures, data – can be converted into digital format (ones and zeroes) and reincarnated intact somewhere else. Computer technologies facilitate the combination of different media.

And Finally… Media can become effective learning resources if what is selected is relevant to the task, and provides experiences which are different from other available material. (Adapted from Bates, 1984)