Research Article
Hua Zheng, Eulho Jung, Tong Li, Meehyun Yoon
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 2, Article No: ep347
ABSTRACT
This experimental study examined the effects of segmentation and self-explanation designs on cognitive load in instructional videos. Four types of instructional videos (segmentation, self-explanation, combined, and control) were created and tested by 121 undergraduate students randomly assigned to one of four research groups. The results of students’ self-ratings on the cognitive load survey showed that the segmenting design produced a significantly less germane cognitive load than the two non-segmenting designs (self-explanation and control). The self-explanation design did not produce a significantly more germane load than the control design. However, students’ dispositions toward segmentation and self-explanation designs were generally positive and supported the theoretical justifications reported in the literature. The findings are discussed, along with segmentation dilemmas, limitations, and future study implications.
Keywords: instructional video, multimedia learning design principle, segmentation, self-explanation, cognitive load
Research Article
Bradley E. Wiggins
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 4, Issue 1, pp. 30-49
ABSTRACT
This article presents the results from a post-test only experiment conducted in 2011 with undergraduate and graduate students (N=67) from individualist and collectivist cultures. Demographic information was collected through questions appearing at the end of a post-test administered to subjects after completing the e-learning module. Each person was randomly assigned to one of three e-learning modules which all shared identical instructional content: time travel. However, the modules differed in design. Specifically, while the control module was designed according to the coherence principle, one experimental module was designed with non-essential background music and the other was designed with non-essential background images. The coherence principle of multimedia instruction stipulates that the addition of extraneous audio, images, or text impairs learning. Nevertheless, one normative standard of multimedia design does not apply to a group of culturally and linguistically diverse learners. Among the findings from this study, a flexible coherence principle is proposed and it suggests that the multimedia designer must consider one’s own cultural and linguistic composition as well as that of the intended audience. A concluding discussion suggests that cultural variation may be related to cognitive variation.
Keywords: E-learning, Linguistic relativism, Cognitive Load Theory, Coherence principle, Collectivist - Individualist, Multimedia design