Multimedia Instructional Messages

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Chapter 2: Multimedia instructional Messages

Mayer, R. E. (2001). Multimedia learning. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Keywords: multimedia instructional message, mayer

In this chapter Richard Mayer describes what a multimedia instructional message is, and he resorts to do it pragmatically by explaining how lightning storms develops, how car brakes work and how pumps work.

Useful quotes:

Concept

• "A multimedia instructional message is a communication using words and pictures that is intended to promote learning"(P21)
• “For book-based presentations, the words are in the form of printed text and the pictures are in the form of illustration. For computer-based presentations, the words are in the form of narration and the pictures are in the form of animation”. (P40) But for my research topic I assume the words are in the form of audio and the pictures are in the form of video.

Components

• Mayer identifies it as a tripartite concept composed by “the message that reflects the idea of communications or presentations involving a teacher and learner; the instruction that reflects the purpose of promoting learning; and multimedia that reflects the idea of the way it is presented (using both words and pictures)” (Cf. P 21-22)

Pragmatic use

• The three examples Mayer explains in the chapter, have in common three elements: “first, each is a message – that is, a communication to a learner, namely an explanation, with the form of a cause-and-effect chain, of how a system works second, each is instructional – that is, the purpose of communication is to foster learning through tests of retention, for example; and each is presented using words and pictures – that is they are based on multimedia” (Cf. P39-40).

Alberto Ramirez Martinell