Multi-Media Approach in Learning

We could observe in today's classrooms the vast individual differences in the potentials and styles of learning among the pupils. Some prefer learning by reading; some others prefer hearing to experts and some like to learn by seeing. Majority if students are interested in using audio-visual aids in their learning. Such kind of individual differences in students' learning could be successfully met to a large extent by providing for 'Multi-Media Instruction'. To make available quality mass education, that too at a low cost, we have to extensively use all the available educational resources employing appropriate media and materials. If instructional events could stimulate the different senses of the learners, then learning becomes attractive and classroom interactions effective. After all classroom instruction is nothing but reciprocal interaction between the teacher and the taught. The teacher should not aim to stuff the minds of children with maximum amount of information rather he should stimulate spontaneous interactions in the class.

          At present, in such libraries different types of books on varied titles are collected, classified and indexed so that they could be easily accessed and put into use. It is highly profitable if in addition to books, other instructional media and materials like charts, maps, audio and video tapes, recorded television programmes, educational films, computer prgrammes on different topics/lesson etc. are collected (or prepared) and kept in the library, after being categorized, sequentially arranged and properly indexed. To help the students to pick the required instructional materials or media from the library (more often denoted by the term "Resource Centre") the services of a competent teacher, well trained in educational technology should be made available. Through multi-media presentation, any event or process could be made life-like with all its natural background. Similarly by establishing a language laboratory, students could be helped to learn a language and practice speaking it with correct intonation, pronunciation and accent, in almost a similar style as that of a native speaker of the language.

Multi-media Centre

          Media centre is a school in itself as well as a centre which serves a school system. it is also called 'instructional materials centre', 'multi-media library', 'curriculum materials centre', 'instructional or learning resources centre' and provides all necessary materials for both teachers and students. The media centre will house all learning materials and accompanying services putting audio-visual and printed resources under a more favourable, single administrative organization. It provides easier access for individual and groups study. It also provides packets of programmed materials called 'packages' for various study units. The packets include pamphlets, specimens of various kinds, transparencies, recordings, photographs, charts, posters depending on the subject to be taught. Some of the materials that have to be procured form outside can be dialed. The centre needs the services of specialists in behavioural technology for arranging systematic integration of various experiences.

Multi-Media Presentation through Computer

If the learning content or information is made to appear as 'visuals' in colour, along with the natural movements of the figures in the scenes and the sounds they make (including speeches), in a computer screen then it is called in 'Information Technology' as 'Multi-Media Presentation'. Many of the techniques used in "Data Transmission" are employed in multi-media presentation.

          In simple multimedia presentation programmes, visual frames are linearly moved, one after the other. In this type we can view the frames moving either in forward or reverse direction. But it may not be possible to get further details about the scene (or the figures involved in the scene) which we are viewing in the programme, by leaping to another 'file' related to the particular scene i.e. lateral movement is not possible. In other words it could be said that the learner is required to move along the linear sequence arranged in the programme. Here one has to view the files containing the multimedia visuals just like glancing across the pages of a book.

Interactive multimedia Presentation

          Here when we are viewing a frame containing a text or picture, in the multimedia programme, then to get further details regarding a fact (word) or figure (image) involved in the scene of the frame we have to press that hot spot over it by clinking the mouse and get at the related file. Thus we are able to leap from a file to many related files of the programme laterally also and get detailed knowledge about any concept, fact or figure. Interactive multimedia programmes aloow us to move in any direction laterally or linearly i.e. we are able to interact with the programme as per our interest and expand our knowledge. This method of providing information through an interactive multimedia programmes is called 'Using Hyper Media'.

Elements of a Multimedia Programme

Elements in the Multimedia	Method of appearance
Text	Information appears in the computer screen as sentences containing words.
Pictures Movies / Films	Photographs and diagrams appear Movies could be run in the computer screen just like television programmes
Animation	Figures move and appear to be dynamic and alive (e.g. Cartoons)
Sound	When a lion is presented, its roaring sound is also integrated with the visual.
Integration	Through computer software, multimedia presentation is integrated; further leaping from one medium to another is also made possible.

Equipments Required for Multimedia Presentation

1.    Computer

2.    Digital Computer, Analog Devices and Hardware devices that serve as interface to digital computer and analog devices

3.    Computer hardwares for analyzing information and arranging them media-wise

4.    Softwares to integrate the different kinds of information (present in different media form) like 'drivers', 'editors', 'processing software', and 'authoring software'.

Advantages of Multimedia Presentation

All information are categorized media-wise and stored as database so that we could present any of the needed information as and when required. This could be effectively employed in the fields like planning, building database, recreation, education, factories and plants, business etc.

Educational uses

1.    It promotes the curiosity of the learners. While learning a topic, the pupils could obtain various information related to the topic are in the form of pictures, texts, visuals, and sounds and acquire comprehensive knowledge. Teacher and the taught join together and search for information and knowledge. No more is the teacher considered as the exclusive source of knowledge for pupils.

2.    To clarity pupil's the teacher could provide detailed information with the aid of pictures, drawings and films.

3.    Pupils could learn the content not only in the textual form but also through visuals in true life-like settings.

4.    Apart from classroom regular learning, pupils could use their computers at home and learn through multimedia. Habit of self-learning is promoted.

5.    Multimedia learning enables the teacher to provide assignments to students which demand creative expressions on their part.

6.    Multimedia programmes find extensive applications in computer-based training.

7.    Multimedia presentation is highly useful in Museums and Archaeology

8.    Teachers could prepare "Multimedia programme packages" for pupils' effective self-learning.

Multi-Media Kits

     Multi-Media learning materials prepared on different topics in a subject and packed in a handy kit are available now a day in the market. Each kit contains.

1.    Printed Handbook

2.    Transparencies

3.    Collection of Slides

4.    Audio-tape

5.    Video-tape

6.    Printed Diagrams

7.    Film Strips

8.    Short Films

Manufacturers of Multimedia Kits employ the services of expert teachers and educational technologists. The Audio and Video tapes contain the exposition of the subject content as delivered by expert teachers in their classrooms. Multi-media Kit found their extensive use in 'Distance Education' nowadays.