Hypermedia and Multimedia Web-Based Lessons

Compare and contrast the effects of hypermedia and multimedia in Web-based lessons

INTRODUCTION

Technology is changing the way lessons are taught . A wide variety of multimedia applications teaching various core competencies are now available either freely or commercially . The World Wide Web (WWW ) is also becoming a very powerful tool for teaching , allowing teaching materials to be enhanced by hyperlinked audio , video , interactive objects and animations

PURPOSE

The purpose of this document is to compare and contrast the effects of multimedia and hypermedia web-based lessons . It begins by distinguishing [banner_entry_middle]

br the difference between a pure multimedia and a hypermedia web based lessons

DEFINITIONS

Multimedia

Multimedia is in essence a presentation of information that incorporates multiple media such as text , audio , graphics , and animation (CITEd Learn Center , 2007 . Multimedia could be carried in any form and it need not be computerized . It may come in the form of video tape , video CD , DVD or some other form of digital media . Since computers offers one of the most seamless form presentation , multimedia are normally associated with computers . Multimedia presentations are normally distributed in the form of CDROM that can be played live or installed in a computer

Hypermedia

Hypermedia refers to hyperlinked multimedia – the linkage of text audio , graphics , animation , and /or video through hyperlinks (CITEd Learn Center , 2007 . An example would be a hypermedia study guide that offers illustrated textbook content hyperlinked to web-based video and other content , glossary entries , and comprehension questions . Other hypermedia applications for the classroom include supported digital reading environments and lessons . Technically , a hypermedia is also a form of multimedia but for discussion purposes let us use hypermedia for hyperlinked multimedia , and use multimedia instead for the other forms of multimedia presentations

EFFECTS ON WEB BASED LESSONS

Hypermedia offers more power in terms of integrating curriculum contents . Through interactive objects , it can be used to add attractiveness through user interaction . It can even be applied in the form of games where the user becomes motivated through rewards and punishment . On the other hand , multimedia presentations are normally fixed presentations with no user interaction . It may be part of a web lesson but only a direct link to a fixed video presentation or a download link to fixed multimedia presentation . Hypermedia allows a simple text to be enriched with a lot of hyperlinked vocabulary definitions , glossaries , translations , explanatory notes , background information , and instructional prompts . On the other hand a simple multimedia only offers limited enrichment because it is not associate different forms of media , each must be explained separately . Hypermedia through hyperlinked and pop-ups can use a single text to be represented by several media through a simple point or click operation . Hypermedia can also be use to address a wide variety of needs , providing alternative means to engage learners . With hypermedia , teachers can help a variety of learners . Moreover , because the various supports are presented as hyperlinks , students can access them independently according to their interest , similar to an on-demand video

Learning using multimedia or hypermedia is… [banner_entry_footer]