Multimedia Use in the Classroom

Reflecting on What I Know: Chapter 9

1. How can my students use multimedia for their projects?

Morrison and Lowther defines multimedia as communication that involves more than one format. Multimedia can be incorporated into projects through text, graphics, pictures and photographs, video, sound, hyperlinks, and animated objects (Morrison-Lowther, 235). There have been many advances in computer technology and this connection provides students, teachers, and other adults a variety of ways to communicate.

2. What applications are available for creating a multimedia presentation?

The following are applications that are available for creating multimedia presentations:

Apple's iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, PowerPoint, Adobe's Flash

As stated above, multimedia can be incorporated into a project or presentation by text, graphics, pictures and photographs, video, sound, hyperlinks and animated objects.

By using these tools, students can easily incorporate a variety of media into their presentations. These tools make it easier for students to create a more elaborate project (Morrison-Lowther, 235-236).

3. Should I place limits on how my students use multimedia?

It is very important to explain your expectations to each student prior to starting a multimedia project. Multimedia projects allow students to express their individual ideas and provide excellent research tools that students can use to collect data (Morrison-Lowther, 252). Multimedia can be limited to PowerPoint presentations or digital video due to limitation of equipment or software in the classrooms, but there are endless possibilities for creating presentations. Multimedia requires thoughtful planning. Therefore, overuse of animations, transitions and color, can cause diminishing outcomes for a multimedia presentation (Morrison-Lowther, 243). Students should be allowed to research their options but at the same time, be resourceful and mindful of the options of multimedia that are available.

Resources:

Morrison, G., & Lowther, D. (2010). Integrating computer technology into the classroom, Skills for the 21st Century (Fourth Edition). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.

Image retrieved from: http://www.interacoman.com/multimediasolutions.html