Chapter 8: Using Media to Support Learning

What’s Inside This Chapter

In this chapter, you’ll learn:

• The factors that affect the use of media in a learning event

• Which media are most appropriate for each factor

• Tips for using each type of media.

Have you ever seen one of those Superbowl Sunday television commercials that was memorable and that you really liked—because it was exceptionally funny or touching—but later couldn’t even remember what product was being advertised? That’s the potential pitfall in using media in the learning environment as well. What you want the learners to remember and use is the content of your course, not the flashiness of your media. Your course is never about the media you use, no matter how colorful, arresting, or technologically advanced. It’s about the learning. The media that you use support and augment the learning.

Media can be effective tools for you as you create a course and strive to make the learning interesting and memorable. In this chapter, the factors that affect the use of media in a learning event are discussed, and the most appropriately used media for each factor are identified. Tips are also provided to assist you in using each type of media.

Basic Rule 35

Learning is about the content activities, and eventual job performance— not about the media.

For more information on using media, another book in this series, Presentation Basics (Rosania, 2003), would also be useful. The discussions in that book are helpful in supporting your use of media, particularly when you are facilitating a content/ knowledge/comprehension learning activity or simply making a presentation.