COVID-19 has forced many higher education institutions to move from face-to-face teaching and learning to an e-learning environment. Many institutions had already started to implement blended learning strategies, but lecturers with limited knowledge of multimedia learning could not keep up with the pace. Multimedia learning can enhance learning,…

In recent years, a large number of learning management sites (LMs) have emerged in the higher education sector, but these systems are generally not well-maintained. Most of the time the burden falls upon the lecturers to populate and maintain the content on these sites. The problem is, most of these online environments are built around complex…

The use of subtitles within multimedia presentations is a common practice to develop accessible instructional materials for individuals with disabilities. However, due to various deficits in cognitive processing, individuals with symptoms of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may not benefit from the use of subtitles to enhance their…

This study investigates how graphical and content list type overviews with and without navigation restrictions affect the cognitive load experienced by a learner searching for information in a hypertext. The study used a 2x2 between factor design with the factors navigability (restricted vs. non-restricted) and overview format (graphical vs.…

In three experiments, learners used computerized learning material, which consisted of static pictures and on-screen text relating to the physiology of vision in one of two formats. The formats differed in method of access to text. Accessing text by clicking on picture components was hypothesized to produce superior learning to linear access…

The authors propose a definition of Smart Learning linked to digital technologies to see how effective these technologies can enable and empower learning. It is argued that smart learning requires smart thinking to underpin the learning process and knowledge outcomes. This assumption requires a more sophisticated understanding and design of the…

Multimedia presentations that combine visual and verbal information are widely used for instructional purposes. While the design of the text-graphic relationship is difficult, several design strategies with the potential to reduce cognitive load have been identified in the literature. The purpose of this study is to examine how split-attention,…

Distinct theoretical perspectives, Cognitive Load Theory and Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) theory, have been used to examine individual differences the challenges faced with hypermedia learning. However, research has tended to use these theories independently, resulting in less robust explanations of hypermedia learning. This study examined the…

Poor multimedia comprehenders suffer from a decreased ability in comprehending complex textual and pictorial materials (Maki & Maki, 2002). This deficit will lead to an overloaded working memory and consequently decreased performance (Carretti, Borella, Cornoldi, & De Beni, 2009). The purpose of this research study was to examine the effects of…

This study adds to the literature by introducing multimedia research in the psychomotor area. In this study, 87 freshman students in pedagogy used task cards to learn Basic Life Support (BLS), a psychomotor skill consisting of nine lifesaving actions to be performed in a specific order. Task cards are printed materials and are often implemented…

The study investigates the use of different multimedia instructional design formats on learning. Undergraduate students from the College of Education at a public university in the United Arab Emirates were randomly assigned to groups corresponding to six instructional design formats, namely; Listen Only, Read Only, Read+ Listen, Listen + Graphics,…

This study explored the causes of the reverse modality effect when learning from multimedia instruction. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups (visual text or spoken text). The findings revealed a reverse modality effect wherein that those studying visual text outperformed those studying spoken text on three assessments. Further…

A large body of research has shown that incorporating text in the corresponding sections of an illustration facilitates the learning of illustrated documents. More recently, a series of studies has revealed that the use of interactive windows located close to the illustration causes similar effects. The aim of this paper is to help bring about a…

The addition of video capabilities to portable media playing devices has engendered a broader definition of the term podcast to include video files. Current research designs on podcast use in education are neglectful of the considerations of cognitive load on student learning. Podcasting is the process by which multimedia learning objects (MLOs)…

The seductive detail principle asserts that people learn more deeply from a multimedia presentation when interesting but irrelevant adjuncts are excluded rather than included. However, critics could argue that studies about this principle contain methodological problems. The recent experiment attempts to overcome these problems. Students (N = 108)…