Why Should I Use Multimedia?

Multimedia refers to the use of verbal and non-verbal modes to present information and share communications, using a variety of text, images, audio, and video to create learning objects and learning events (Moreno & Mayer, 2007). Effective teaching uses a variety of learning modalities to enhance interest in the subject, content, and delivery of the learning materials.

Some of the reasons why instructors create multimodal learning objects and events for their teaching:

Same time access
Telling stories
Orientation to something
Useful for thinking; meta-cognitive
Sense of presence; sharing your persona
Saving time i.e. doing video feedback vs. typed feedback
Engaging students' interest

How Can I Use Multimedia?

Try to use media:

that has high-quality sound and allows for volume adjustment, playback speed variation, and pausing
that is a shorter duration to maintain student engagement
for longer podcasts and/or video focusing on the most valuable parts with timestamps indicated for students
that align to the course/module goals and assessments
that is entertaining and easy to listen to in supporting interest and engagement

The next few pages explore how specific multimedia tools can be used in your course.

Tips

As with all external online content, links can change or break if the media is relocated or removed. Before the next iteration of a course, be sure to validate Canvas course links and fix any broken links.
For optional or supplementary podcasts, use links that are set to open in a new window so the visual cueing (indicating an external link) on the Canvas content pages is consistent.
Provide transcripts whenever possible and integrate good Universal Design for Learners (UDL) practice.

References

Bolliger, D. U., Supanakorn, S., & Boggs, C. (2010). Impact of podcasting on student motivation in the online learning environment. Computers & Education, 55(2), 714-722. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2010.03.004
Canvas Guide: What is the Rich Content Editor
Calandra, B., Barron, A. E., & Thompson-Sellers, I. (2008). Audio use in E-learning: What, why, when, and how? International Journal on E-Learning, 7(4), 589.
Green, T. D., & Brown, A. H. (2018). Digital audio (1st ed., pp. 29-82) Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781315674865-3
Inclusion, Equity, and Access While Teaching Remotely
Moreno, R., & Mayer, R. (2007). Interactive multimodal learning environments: Special issue on interactive learning environments: Contemporary issues and trends. Educational Psychology Review, 19(3), 309-326.
The UDL Project: UDL Tools For All Grades and Subject Areas
UBC Design Principles for Multimedia

Additional Resources on Multimodality