Tutorial- Multimedia

1. What is Multimedia?

    Multimedia is the field concerned with the computer-controlled integration of text, graphics, drawings, still and moving images (Video), animation, audio, and any other media where every type of information can be represented, stored, transmitted and processed digitally.

    A Multimedia Application is an Application which uses a collection of multiple media sources e.g. text, graphics, images, sound/audio, animation and/or video.

    (E.g., Hypermedia can be considered as one of the multimedia applications.)

What is Multimedia Technology?

     Multimedia technology refers to interactive, computer-based applications that allow people to communicate ideas and information with digital and print elements. Professionals in the field use computer software to develop and manage online graphics and content. The work that media technology specialists produce is used in various media, such as training programs, web pages, and news sites.

Important Facts About Multimedia Technology

Median Salary (2014)	$63,630 (multimedia artists and animators)
Key Skills	Time management; organization; problem-solving; communication
Similar Occupations	Art directors; graphic designers; web developers
Job Outlook	6% (for multimedia artists and animators)

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Learn.org

2. What is an interactive element?

          Interactive elements, available for Made to Order Templates, give your website visitors a way to click or view additional information on your website. For example, more information may become available the longer a visitor is on a page, or if a visitor clicks on a button they may see an expanded menu. These elements consolidate your content, keep your design clean and control how your audience consumes the information on your website.

3. How to evaluate multimedia materials?

        Evaluation of multimedia materials can be done by using 2 types of evaluation, which are Formative Evaluation and Summative Evaluation.

(A)Formative Evaluation

         Formative evaluation is done as a continuous process in the development of multimedia and even before the development process actually starts. Decisions taken at the beginning of the process of software development affect various aspects of the software. Answers to questions like who, why, where, and how become the guidelines for the development of the software. Depending upon the time and resources, both quantitative and qualitative methods of feedback are utilized in formative evaluation. No programme can fulfill all requirements of all learners. In fact, if a single programme can provide all the information, and answer all queries on a single topic, it should be considered successful. So, every software developer must decide and delimit the scope of the software beforehand. In other words, we have to spell out the objectives of the programme. Some questions like the following ones need to be answered because these will affect the content and the selection of technology: 

(i) Who are the target users of this software and what is the level of the target users? 

(ii) What is the level of computer familiarity expected of the learners? 

(iii) What would be the objective (in terms of content) to be covered by the programme? 

(iv) How will the programme be used? 

a. as supplementary to classroom teaching? 

b. as independent programme providing complete courseware? 

         Once decisions on the above are made, the cognitive aspects of learning are to be considered. The socio-cultural background of the target users will affect content selection and treatment of the topic. In arranging the content, the learning habits of the users would influence the decision about sequencing of information, quality of information (through various media) provided through every screen, and supplementary information to be provided through links. It is often mentioned that no programme should aspire to be complete or self sufficient, but it should lead the users to relevant information. The software developer should provide relevant links and the content expert should word the text and place other relevant media material in a manner that they raise more inquisitiveness in the learners and they go for further search and self study. 

(B) Summative Evaluation

         After the completion of the development of the programme, the software is released for use. The actual users, then, make suggestions and these suggestions form the basis of summative evaluation. Summative evaluation is the end of the project evaluation. Some programmes involve a number of teams to develop various components of larger software, which finally integrate into the end product. While working with Microsoft Office you must have used the numerous facilities it offers. For example if you click on the Accessories it provides Calculator, Games, etc. These must have been developed by different groups separately and then finally joined to make a final product. Summative evaluation, as mentioned earlier, should be conducted for each of the components and also for the final product. As summative evaluation is targeted at the end-users, in educational software a major focus of study is the software's . The teaching learning objectives identified during the needs analysis become the base of summative evaluation of academic software. Evaluation should keep the educational, entertainment, ease of use or design features in mind while conducting summative evaluation of these and then overall impact on learning. Suggestions on the basis of summative evaluation may be for (i) short-term and (ii) long-term changes in the programme. Short-term changes may be based on your own observations and the feedback from the users and the long-term changes may be made on the basis of the decisions of the curricular design and on the basis of suggestions given by the development agencies and the organisations using your software, if it is being used outside your institution.

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References

Cemca. org (2016). Evaluation of Multimedia. Achieved on 24 September 2017

        from http://cemca.org.in/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Section9.pdf

Learn. org (2014). What is Multimedia Technology? Achieved on 24 September 
        2017 from http://learn.org/articles/What_is_Multimedia_Technology.html 

Marshall, D. (2001). What is Multimedia? Achieved on 24 September 2017
        from  https://users.cs.cf.ac.uk/Dave.Marshall/Multimedia/node10.html.