No matter how you feel about our nation’s obsession with visual technology and animation, there is no denying that multimedia and tools such as animation can help students tremendously in the classroom. In fact, my research proved that animation and multimedia mediums are an exciting new way to bridge the verbal ideas stressed during teacher-centered learning with the visual images that many students latch onto for deeper understanding of difficult ideas. Specifically, animation supplies memorable images and such images are more easily retained.
The idea can be as simple as helping an elementary school student to focus on sequencing in a story or it can be an idea so complex and minute that the manipulation of size and space is required to truly visualize what is occurring. An example of this could be exploring and understanding the organelles in any given cell. Animation and or multimedia tools could aid in supplying a real life way to visualize and understand these microscopic entities. For more visual learners, this can really help! Thus, both animation and web-based multimedia can be used for students of all ages and at all levels, but more importantly for students with diverse learning styles.
Another added bonus is both that animation and web based multimedia, are a win for both teacher and student. The teacher is able to use these tools in the classroom to reiterate prior learning in a simple and organized fashion, to motivate students to view a difficult concept in a simpler way and to facilitate a deeper understanding. Students love these technological tools because they can make learning fun and personal. Often times a student can select an idea to focus on, let’s say addition and subtraction, but he or she will be given choices in regards to which way he or she would best like to learn or review that concept. Thus, animation and web-based multimedia can allow students to make the own interpretations of which learning style best suits them. This creates a learning environment that is student specific and can benefit both teachers and students in the diverse classrooms we see all around the country today.
Further, another interesting I came across in my reading was another great way to facilitate learning of a complex idea is to require students to create their own animation or multimedia example and to present it to the class. This will require the student to think of their own understanding of an idea and it can also help a classroom of diverse students to see how each person learns differently. Also, with the technological trends of today we will all have to know how to use these mediums to express our ideas and communicate them to others.
So are animation or web based multimedia just for kids? What do you think?
After, my research I feel like they can aid in any classroom. I am not a big fan of videogames, constant television or constant texting, but from a pedagogical point of view, it seems like these tools can help any teacher reach more students. Currently, I am taking a science class (and I am not a science person…trust me) and I am seeing that the visual tools that the professor offers and has suggested; for example, animations and games have helped me a lot when studying, especially since that type of information is not willingly accepted into my brain.
This grown up kid…says yes to animation and multimedia tools!
For further information see:
http://www.youthlearn.org/learning/activities/multimedia/animation.asp
http://www.aa.ufl.edu/aa/facdev/develop/teachingtools/teachingwithtech/tmultimedialearning.shtml
http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/Multimedia_animation
http://tilttv.blogspot.com/2005/12/tilt-episode-7-multimedia-animation.html
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I think that you did a great job in summarizing this article, and giving your point of view. I feel also that animation and multimedia use in the classroom is a wonderful way to help students learn, especially those with learning disabilities, or students who are better "visual" learners, as opposed to students who are "auditory" or "written" learners.
ReplyDeleteGreat job!
It seems that you found a good article!
ReplyDeleteyou did great on summarizing it, and I agree that this world is becoming so obsessed with technology and animations and everything of that sort. but the thing is, as much as people say its not good, it's actually helping us out, especially in the classroom. I learned in Psychology that when you see actual pictures or diagrams or something colorful or even hear a noise, you are more likely to remember that specific thing. Say you see the DNA molecule sturcture, and when you go to take a test and you see those words they will trigger your memory of that diagram.
amazing how brains and technology work together so nicely.
The article you found is really good! It would be interesting if research was done comparing two classrooms; one integrating animation into their teaching and one not. I wonder if the outcome of their grades would differ significantly.
ReplyDeletePersonally, animation has helped me out very much since I have been in college. Taking Biology II last year I would have been completely lost if it wasn't for the pictures of the celss and micro-organisms on the overhead slideshows. We I become a teacher, I will definitely present animation in the classroom so my students will better and easily understand concepts being taught.
I really like your points about how animation can really help with "retained images" in student learning. I know I have alot of difficulty remembering subject matter when I only view it a few times on paper. But with an animated project I know that I can run it through in my head over and over again just as easily if I were viewing it right there. Another point of yours that I liked was that this is usefull in helping students with diverse learning styles. It's hard to teach alot of people something at once because they all view it differently. But this might just be a small breakthrough that allows some subject matter to be taught evenly to large groups at once without difficulty or confusion.
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