MULTIMEDIA IN EDUCATION

MULTIMEDIA

WHAT IS MULTIMEDIA??

The term Multimedia means that the information can be represented through video, audio, animation in additional to the traditional media (i.e. text, graphics drawings, images etc.)

Multimedia used in Education

• It provides the students with opportunities to represent and express their prior Knowledge.

• It allows the students to function as designers, using tools for analyzing the world, accessing and interpreting information, organizing their personal knowledge, and representing what they know to others.

• Multimedia applications engage students and provide valuable learning opportunities.

• It also empowers students to create and design rather than “absorbing representations created by others.

• Creates personally meaningful learning opportunities

Requirements of Multimedia

To develop the system of multimedia we use the various hardware and software components.

1 .CPU: The CPU, which is recommended for a multimedia computer should be Pentium IV or other advanced chips.

2 . Monitor: The multimedia PC should be equipped with a monitor having Super Video Graphics Arrays (SVGA) card. The basic advantage of having SVGA is that it has a better resolution, thus display will be of better quality for the graphics and pictures.

3 .Input- Output Devices: Keyboard and mouse are two important components for any multimedia PC.

4. CD- ROM: Multimedia uses digitized audio and video, which not only take huge amount of storage space but also require high-speed storage media, which can send large amount of data back and forth quickly to keep audio and video playing and recording smoothly.

5. DVD: Digital Video Disk technology improves the storage capacity to 4.7 to 17 Giga bytes.

6. Sound Card: Sound output from a computer has been a feature of machines usually used for sending warning error message or games. If better quality and capabilities for sound output or inputs are required, then there must be a device, which can be added to the basic machine. This device is known as sound Card, which is added to the basic machine.

7. Photo CD: It is used to save photos in the compressed form. The compression allows for 100 photos to be recorded in one CD.

 Software used in multimedia are as follows:

We can classify multimedia software as system software and authoring tools used to develop multimedia applications. The former sets up the communications between the system resources and the application programs. Examples are:

• Video for Windows
• QuickTime
• Indeo and Digital Video Interactive
• Microsoft Multimedia Technologies

The Software used in multimedia industry:

•  Photoshop: Industry standard digital imaging software.
•  Director: Authoring multimedia for CD-ROM and the web.
•  Premiere: Digital video and post-production tool.
•  Sound Edit: Sound capture and editing for multimedia.
•  Flash: Vector capture and editing for multimedia.
•  Front-page: Authoring tool for Internets and the www.
•  Alias/Wave front: 3d tools for games, films.

Advantages of Multimedia

 -It is user-friendly and also increases learning effectiveness.

 -It is flexible, and this media can easily be changed to fit different situations and audiences.

-It reduces training costs and it is easy to use.

- It is integrated and interactive and all the different mediums are integrated through the digitization process 

-Interactivity is heightened by the possibility of easy feedback.

Disadvantages of Multimedia

■ Even though it is flexible, it takes time to put the original draft together.

■It is expensive.

■It is not always easy to configure.

■It also requires special hardware.

Conclusion

Multimedia Learning gives educators and instructional designers an important weapon to draw upon as they develop digital content for their courses. Media has been an important tool in education from the beginning, but with digital technologies making it easier for anyone to create their own media-based content, it is more important then ever to keep in mind the ideas represented in Multimedia.

A Short video on MULTIMEDIA:

Reference:

http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/engramja/gradcourse/multimedia/benefits_of_multimedia.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimedia

http://www.cited.org/index.aspx?page_id=106