Motivating With Multimedia!

Meg Turner 1996

The following was adapted from Technology and Learning magazine and presented at the North Carolina Association for Educational Technology in Charlotte, North Carolina in February, 1997 and the North Carolina Educational Technology Conference in Greensboro in December, 1996 and 1997.

Multimedia technology has exploded onto the scene as the answer for educating the "television generation"; Despite research that supports multimedia, many are educators are skeptical...

The purpose of this presentation is to provide effective techniques for using this tool in the classroom... and to suggest ideas that will motivate your students - almost as much as MTV!

"...Multimedia is the use of a computer to present and combine text, graphics, audio and video, with links and tools that let the user navigate, interact, create and communicate. If one of these is missing, you do not have multimedia."


Techniques for Initiating Technology-Based Learning


Using Multimedia Effectively In The Classroom


Motivate Students Using Multimedia!

Determine which application is most appropriate to accomplish your objectives.

  • Curriculum products: (e.g. 3-D Atlas; Counting on Frank; What's the Secret?) can be set up for groups/individuals to explore or complete a task.
  • Reference materials: (e.g. Groliers; Time Almanac; San Diego Zoo) can be used for student research.
  • Teacher presentations: K.I.S.S. ("Keep It Simple Sweetie") -Use to model or enhance your lessons.
  • Student presentations - with proper planning, student reports and projects come alive with multimedia.

  • Three Easy Steps ...for teaching students to create HyperStudio presentations

    1. Become comfortable with the basic steps yourself, then show your students. Build in time to practice the following skills:
    2. For their first project, let students work in pairs on a topic of interest.
    3. Show students how to plan their stack using a storyboard. (linear/branching).
    4. Require a written plan before going to the computer.

    5. Ideas...Ideas...Ideas...

      Almost any product which can be created and shared in a presentation style can be enhanced through multimedia!