Professor, Carleton University, and
President, TRICAN MULTIMEDIA SOLUTIONS INC.
Copyright ã 1997 by TRICAN MULTIMEDIA SOLUTIONS INC.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the author.
Benefits of Multimedia Courseware
This section provides short descriptions of the key benefits of learning using interactive multimedia courseware. The list is meant to assist in helping you think about how the adoption of multimedia for training and education in your organisation could enhance the learning process and help you achieve measurable performance results. The following are common benefits in using multimedia courseware.
Improves Learning
Numerous studies over the years have shown that interactive multimedia learning takes less time, is enjoyed more and increases learning. In a review of numerous meta-analysis studies Najjar (1996:30) found that "learning was higher when information was presented via computer-based multimedia systems than traditional classroom lectures".
Interactive
Interactivity is mutual action between the learner, the learning system, and the learning material. Numerous studies have found that interactivity has a strong positive effect on learning (Bosco, 1986, Fletcher, 1989, 1990, Stanfford, 1990). For example, Bosco (1986) reviewed 75 learning studies and found that learners learn faster, and have better attitudes toward learning when using interactive multimedia.
Flexible
Multimedia courseware on CD-ROM can be used at work on the desktop or at a learning centre, at home, while travelling, or to enhance facilitated management development programs. Multimedia courseware can also be used on networks, Intranets or the Internet. These distributed learning approaches allow for even more flexibility, but in the cases of Internets will involve much lower quality images and will preclude the use of video, at