Worked example principle #4: Apply Multimedia Principles to Examples

Beginning on page 235 Clark and Mayer present a kind of meta-principle. The incorporate their own Multimedia Principles into their Worked Example Principles. We remember that the authors recommend against the presentation of both spoken text and written text in parallel. This perhaps either "chokes" working memory, but more likely taxes the part of the brain that processes language. According to the Multimedia Principle, it is okay to present learners with either spoken words with visuals; or written text with visuals. The worked example principle #4 simply is an application of that multimedia principle in the context of an example.

Source: Kahn Academy Sampling Distribution Example Problem

The video above is an example of applying multimedia principle to an example. The instructor speaks to learners while writing on the working surface. The learner is able to receive associated information via both hearing and sight. There is no written text on the page.If a learner is deaf, he or she can use closed captions. The problem there is that in that situation the learner must move her eyes back and forth between the what the instructor is drawing and the written explanation of what the instructor is saying, via closed captions.


References

Clark, R. C. & Mayer, R.E. (2011). E-learning and the science of instruction: Proven Guidelines for consumers and designers of multimedia learning. San Francisco: Pfeiffer.