The development of distance and distributed learning environments on college campuses has created a need to reconsider traditional approaches to teaching and learning by integrating research and theories in human learning, pedagogy, and instructional technology. Creating effective and efficient multimedia for Web-based instruction requires a working knowledge of human memory constructs, including working memory, dual coding, and cognitive load. The authors synthesize research on human memory, cognition, and learning in order to provide multimedia practitioners with a set of basic principles for designing multimedia for meaningful Web-based teaching and learning.