4 - Modality Principle

Brief Definition

According to Clark and Mayer (2011), the Modality Principle in multimedia presentations is the need to reduce excessive text when a graphic is the focus and it can be explained auditorily. The authors cite research that shows that children learn more deeply when taught via audio narrated graphics v. those taught with on-screen text explained graphics.

An Artifact

The Google Drive Tutorial 2014-Quick Start is a video lesson introducing the basic concepts of what Google Drive is used for as well as how to get started using it. Trying to imagine reading all of Anson from AnsonAlex.com’s narrative explanations from text is painful; however, listening to his background information while looking at Google Drive and to specific elements to which he refers is very easy to follow.

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, CA: Pfeiffer.