Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning

The playlist includes six short videos that introduce the principles of multimedia learning with clear examples of what you should and shouldn't do when designing learning objects.

A concise summary of the 12 principles and how to address them.

Well designed breif animated tutorial explaining the general theory of CTML

This tutorial provides a general overview with design comparisons

Academic librarians have utilized video tutorials for many years, however, the videos may not be useful or usefully shared. Cognitive theory of multimedia learning (CTML) provides evidence-based design principles for librarians to create instructional videos that can expand reference support. Meaningful learning through video can be uniquely integrated into students' academic experience. The author applied CTML to videos on course assignments and then utilized the learning management system to send them to students enrolled in the course. This study builds upon the evidence-based conclusions of CTML and contributes an innovative way to integrate reference into the student experience. This is an important contribution as librarians seek to scale and expand reference support to in-person, online, and hybrid learning environments.

First, we propose a theory of multimedia learning based on the assumptions that humans possess separate systems for processing pictorial and verbal material (dual-channel assumption), each channel is limited in the amount of material that can be processed at one time (limited-capacity assumption), and meaningful learning involves cognitive processing including building connections between pictorial and verbal representations (active-processing assumption). Second, based on the cognitive theory of multimedia learning, we examine the concept of cognitive overload in which the learner’s intended cognitive processing exceeds the learner’s available cognitive capacity. Third, we examine five overload scenarios. For each overload scenario, we offer one or two theory-based suggestions for reducing cognitive load, and we summarize our research results aimed at testing the effectiveness of each suggestion. Overall, our analysis shows that cognitive load is a central consideration in the design of multimedia instruction.