Multimedia environments suggest to us a new perception of the state of changes in and the integration of new technologies that can increase our ability to process information. Moreover, they are obliging us to change our idea of knowledge. These changes are reflected in the obvious synergetic convergence of different types of access, communication and information exchange. The multimedia learning environment should not represent a passive object that only contains or assembles information but should become, on one side, the communication medium of the pedagogical intentions of the professor/designer and, on the other side, the place where the learner reflects and where he or she can play with, test and access information and try to interpret it, manipulate it and build new knowledge. The situation created by such a new learning environments that give new powers to individuals, particularly with regard to accessing and handling diversified dimensions of information, is becoming increasingly prevalent in the field of education. The old static equilibrium, in which fixed roles are played by the teacher (including the teaching environment) and the learner, is shifting to dynamic eqUilibrium where the nature of information and its processing change, depending on the situation, the learning context and the individual's needs.

This report describes the development and test of a program-level approach to evaluating the quality of interactive multimedia instruction (IMI) in The Army Distributed Learning Program. Application to a sample of recently fielded courses demonstrates a feasible method for evaluation that provides metrics about IMI quality and points to directions for needed improvements in technical, production quality, and pedagogical aspects of IMI courseware.

An evidence based, rigorous text reviewing 12 principles of experimental studies grounded in cognitive theory of multi-media learning.

Multimedia-Based Instructional Design is a thoroughly revised and updated second edition of the best-selling book that provided a complete guide to designing and developing interactive multimedia training. While most training companies develop their training programs in many different technological delivery media—computer-based, web-based, and distance learning technologies—this unique book demonstrates that the same instructional design process can be used for all media. Using just one process reduces cycle time for course development—and also reduces costs.

This text emerges out of the need to share information and knowledge on the research and practices of using multimedia in various educational settings. It discusses issues relating to planning, designing and development of interactive multimedia, offering research data.

First Published in 2008. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.