Learning Sciences for Innovators - Sustainable EdTech for Africa | Carnegie Mellon University Africa

Multimedia for e-Learning

Course Descriptions

The Multimedia Principles, developed by Richard Mayer, outline guidelines for effective multimedia inclusion in e-learning. These principles are crucial for learning because they optimize how learners engage with instructional materials, enhancing comprehension, retention, and transfer of knowledge.

Duration Designed for Cost
3-5 hours per course
(9-12 hours for the series)
  • Instructional designers
  • Educators
  • Game Developers
Free to Fellows
in the program

Essential Learning: Focus on Key Elements

Throughout this course, you will delve into the concept of essential processing, a cognitive approach to learning that emphasizes the cognitive effort needed to encode material into working memory. This process is intricately tied to the complexity inherent in the learning materials. You will explore how learners actively absorb information and discuss strategies to guide them towards grasping essential concepts. Moreover, you will discuss how principles such as segmenting, pretraining, and modality assist in managing essential processing and improving learning outcomes.

Efficient Learning: Minimizing Mental Strain

Throughout this course, you will explore the concept of extraneous processing, a cognitive approach that focuses on minimizing unnecessary cognitive load to enhance learning efficiency. Extraneous processing refers to the mental effort required to deal with superfluous information that does not contribute to learning objectives. You will examine how excessive or irrelevant information can overwhelm learners, making it harder for them to focus on the essential material. Moreover, you will discuss how principles such as Coherence, Contiguity, and Redundancy assist in minimizing extraneous processing and improving learning outcomes.

Generative Learning: Promoting In-depth Understanding

In this course, you will explore the concept of generative processing, a cognitive approach to learning that emphasizes active engagement and knowledge construction. You will delve into how learners actively organize and integrate new information with existing knowledge to create meaningful understanding. Throughout the course, you will discuss how the multimedia principle and personalization principle contribute to fostering generative processing and enhancing learning outcomes.