multimedia presentation

multimedia presentation

The Power of Multimedia Presentations

1. Introduction

The role of multimedia in the advancement of technology and the use of media for presentations in education and training is being recognized as a growing marketplace. It is argued that we are now in an era where change is so rapid that it is necessary to constantly upgrade skills in order to remain competitive in the job market. Under these conditions, there is an increased awareness of the need for lifelong learning and upgrading of skills, which is accompanied by an increased demand for flexible learning modes. This, in turn, favors the use of multimedia resources to accommodate different learning styles and to provide just-in-time and just enough learning resources. For these reasons, it is no longer adequate to prepare present and future professionals with practical skills and an amateurish attitude towards technology. Rather, professionals are expected to be adept at learning new technology and, even better, to be innovative in its application to teaching and learning. For the educational technology field, this means marshaling the best available evidence from theory and practice to systematically improve instruction and learning. In terms of the topic at hand, it means producing quality multimedia presentations. Quality is a word that we frequently hear, but what does it actually mean, and how can we achieve it? Although it is a subjective concept, quality can be categorized by the attributes of good and poor. Descriptions of good presentations point towards engaging and informative learning experiences, whereas poor presentations are characterized by dual cognitive processing of learning words and off-putting visual material. This can be compared to trying to watch a soap drama while simultaneously following the news about the drama characters, a confusing and unproductive experience. During dual processing, students may dissociate verbal information and the visuals they are processing, essentially creating a split in the cognitive learning process, and as a result, it is more difficult to recall the information at a later date. Cause and effect relationships between the split and intrapsychic information are complex and are beyond the scope of this discussion. However, a means to maximize desirable cognitive processing is clear: the information should be clearly presented in such a way that it is easier to construct a visual information model in working memory, supporting easier storage and retrieval of the information at a later date. High-quality presentations lead to this type of learning, and it is widely assumed that the preferred teaching and learning method is one that facilitates better understanding of information, with the view of memory storage and later retrieval. As such, rich-media learning resources are often criticized for holding style over substance, and style should not be confused with quality in this context. Though multimedia resources have the potential to dramatically increase the quality of learning experiences, it cannot occur if we do not apply correct theories and methods. Therefore, a cognition-centered analysis of multimedia’s effect on learning and the development of guidelines for creating effective multimedia materials are vital in an era where technology and media are rapidly becoming commonplace in and out of educational institutions.

2. Benefits of Multimedia Presentations

With the various different editing tools that come with the application, you can edit and customize images and text to fit your needs. This is especially useful when you are in the designing line and want to create a more impressive portfolio to showcase your work to a client. Having a portfolio in printed form, showing only sketches and end products, may not be as impressive as a fully interactive multimedia presentation. This is also applicable to students who are creating presentations for their school projects. With the use of multimedia, the content in the presentation itself will already be an additional piece of work to add onto the original content that is being presented. Creating a more engaging presentation is also a stepping stone for people who wish to impress others with their creative work and opens up more opportunities in their line of work.

By creating a multimedia presentation, you can add more life to your presentation and make it more understandable, interesting, and fun. This is because the images that are displayed and the sounds that are integrated into the presentation can replace a spoken explanation. You can also add more interactivity by using the various tools provided in the application to engage the audience in the presentation.

3. Key Elements for Creating Effective Presentations

The key to a successful presentation is in thorough preparation. A major part of preparation is in identifying the key message or idea from the presentation and constructing a clear and well thought out message that supports your ideas. This involves making tough decisions about what to include and what to leave out. An effective presentation is cost effective. This means one message, one audience. Choosing the right tool to support your presentation is an important part of the message construction. Contrary to popular belief, PowerPoint is not the only way to present a topic, and is not always the best choice. Although PowerPoint is arguably the most commonly used tool, it may not be the most effective. Especially with more complex or abstract ideas, the way the material unfolds in the audience’s minds can be just as important as the information being conveyed. Cognitive tools such as Microworlds or spreadsheets enable an audience to discover an idea for themselves. Simulation or scenario tools can be useful for conveying ideas about process and causality. Organising and hyperlinking tools such as Inspiration can help structure a presentation and clarify complex ideas. Finally, multimedia can be a great tool for a presentation which requires multiple modes of learning and can be more engaging for the audience. It is important to match the tool to the message. PowerPoint is useful for a linear, logically based presentation. If you are considering a tool other than PowerPoint, practice and the building of a prototype is especially important to ensure your ideas will be effectively conveyed.

4. Tips for Engaging Your Audience

Using PowerPoint is a fantastic tool supplied with the Microsoft Office software suite and has become the go-to method for presenting educational materials. Teachers should attempt to work out ways for students to present PowerPoints. With strong and constantly changing computer skills, the use of this tool isn’t too difficult to figure out and can set standards in presentation for the students to aim towards in their own work. It is proven now that visuals have a very strong impact on memory. Visuals are more than twice as likely to be remembered than oral information is. This works as a great incentive to build engaging presentations and requires an increase in student interaction and understanding.

The twenty-first century citizen is a ‘global citizen’. The method of teaching and learning is evolving as the needs and demands of learners are changing. Today’s generation of students is more industry-oriented. They prefer to not only know things, but also to apply them in practical life. They find the traditional method of teaching, which is teacher-centered, too boring and time-consuming. Today’s learners are more fascinated with ‘interactive learning’. They are very inquisitive and want to explore new things. The lecture method is not much beneficial today. They tend to get bored and lose interest. The beauty and effectiveness of the lecture is lost within the noise and confusion of the modern day’s lifestyle.

5. Conclusion

However, what use is there in presenting the most exciting, stimulating, engaging, and visually appealing multimedia presentation without there being any real benefit or learning value behind it? The presentation must be pedagogically sound. It must enhance the students’ understanding of the topic. In order for any type of teaching resource to be successful, it must be well integrated into the curriculum and be applicable to what is required to be taught. One of the main benefits of using multimedia is the potential to reach the attention of the students who may have difficulty in learning through traditional means. Whether it be visually, aurally or through interactive multimedia, it can cater to the needs of a wide range of students. The flexibility offered by multimedia makes it a very appealing and effective method of learning for students with special needs. It allows the user to control the pace of the presentation and review material that may be difficult to understand. Furthermore, multimedia provides a safe learning environment through the use of simulation and games. It is an effective way to teach without the potential risk of injury. On the contrary, a multimedia presentation can be structured for a whole class learning session. This is the beauty of multimedia; it can be individual or group-oriented.