Media are means of communication that relay a message from a source to a receiver. In a learning environment there are six categories of media. Text is one of the most common categories. It can be displayed in many different ways including books and posters. Audio is another common category that involves anything the learner can hear. Visuals also are a good category of media that stimulates learning through posters or drawings. Another type of media is video. Video is a type of media that shows motion such as a videotape or computer animation. Manipulatives also known as objects are the fifth category of media. These include objects that can be touched or handle by the learner. The final category of media are people. People such as teachers, students, and subject experts all play a key role in learning.
Media format is another aspect of traditional media. Media format is the actual physical form in which media is conveyed. Some of these physical forms include markerboards, Powerpoint slides, CDs, DVDs, and computer multimedia. When deciding which format is suitable for a particular lesson many variables need to be accounted for. These variables include instructional setting, learner variables, nature of the objective, and presentational capabilities of the media format.
Summarization of Traditional Media and Looking Ahead
Traditional media in the classroom plays a crucial role in the instruction of students today. The instructor uses traditional media to engage learners and enhance their learning experience. The instructor can achieve this through the use of visuals, audio, and video. Projected and non-projected are two types of visuals utilized in the classroom. Projected visuals can be introduced to the learners through presentation software, digital images, document camera projections, and overhead projections. Non-projected visuals are those that do not require equipment to view. These visuals include still pictures or