Multimedia Interactions

About the interactions

The interactions shown on this website were created for a project funded by Open Universities Australia (OUA). This project involved the development of a series of Quick Skills modules to enhance the learning and study management skills of OUA students. The modules are self-contained mini courses that do not include input or monitoring from the teacher or student discussion.

Most of the interactions were created by a Murdoch University Multimedia student who was employed in the TLC to work on the Quick Skills project. A few of the interactions were adapted from a project managed by Rob Phillips. To view the interactions, select them from the side menu.

Purposes of the interactions

To facilitate student engagement with material, and thus enhance motivation and reflection;
To add variety;
To provide contemporary approaches to presenting material;
To enable interaction with material without teacher input or student discussion;
To provide material in a form that is attractive to younger students who are increasingly coming to expect more sophisticated use of technology. ‘The Y generation are technoliterate – the first generation to grow up with computers. They are more comfortable typing on key boards then writing with pen and paper, and they are often obsessed with the latest technologies and the mobility and access they offer.’ (Neuborne, 1999, in Krause, 2005, p. 3)

Features of these interactions

They were created using Adobe Flash, and all require the Adobe FlashPlayer to operate.
They include interactions which provide information, require decisions or require input.
They can be adapted for new contexts and content.
They can be inserted into websites or into WebCT.
Their colour and design can be altered.
The information in most interactions can also be made available as downloadable Word or pdf documents for future reference to reinforce learning.
Some interactions build reports that can be printed.

Presentation of the interactions

Each interaction shows how it was used in the Quick Skills modules.
The approximate adaptation time for different uses is provided. All costs are at $60.00 an hour. Major adaptations would take longer and cost more.

Types of interactions

Interactions that present information

The following interactions are best used for varying the presentation of material and presenting it in ‘digestible’ chunks. Some reveal when the cursor is run over the material.

Roll-over
Circle
Formula display
Text list
Stages
JavaScript pop-up
Tab
Audio player
Image displayer

Interactions that require a decision

These three interactions require students to make a decision.

Yes/No responses
Drop and drag 1
Drop and drag 2

Interactions that require input.

These interactions require input from the students. In some cases the interaction is enhanced with a printed report.

Evaluation quiz (with results provided)
Drop and drag 3 (with student written input)
SWOT analysis (with printable report)
Mind map
Online mapping tool

About Flash

Adobe flash player offers web-based interactions. To run flash content download the player from http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/.

Example of use of a multimedia Flash interaction

The following example describes one of the interactions in the Quick Skills modules.

Revision strategies mind map interaction from QSK150

This interaction aims to:

provide information on different memory strategies.
enhance student’s repertoire of learning strategies.
provide information in stages and in a non-linear format.

Students enter the mind map interaction and click on each topic box.

Once clicked the boxes reveal a number of subsequent boxes containing images of each learning process.

Information is revealed by clicking on each image.

A question prompts the student to access a quiz about senses by clicking on the accompanying image.

A quiz about senses.

The information in the interaction is downloadable as a printable pdf document for future reference (to reinforce learning). The information is presented in a linear format to accommodate different approaches to learning.

Students complete a memory test on a printable worksheet. The test is explained in the html pages and students reproduce the information in the interaction.

Reference

Krause, Kerri-Lee. 2005. ‘The changing student experience: Who’s driving it and where is it going?’ Student experience conference: Good practice in practice. Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga. Accessed July 18. 2006. http://www.cshe.unimelb.edu.au/Krause/StudExpKeynote05.pdf

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