(http://www.ccsu.edu/Courier/2002/Oct/images/Multimedia.jpg)
ARTICLE
http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/engramja/gradcourse/multimedia/benefits_pg1.htm
Benefits of Using Multimedia in the Classroom
Benefits for Students:
 | Engaging and motivating. |
| Provides opportunities to try new things. |
| Incorporates additional useful skills into the curriculum. |
| Heightens project-based learning opportunities. |
| Provides classroom accessibility outside the classroom. |
| Benefits audio/visual learners. |
| Appealing and manageable to students with special needs and at-risk students. |
| Allows for showcase of student work. |
Benefits for Teachers:
| Enables teachers to turn teacher-centered lessons into student-centered. |
| Provides teachers with more opportunities to be facilitator. |
| Easily adaptable to all learning levels. |
| Decreases classroom management issues. |
| Provides opportunities for students to have a 'real' audience. |
| Places onus of responsibility back on the student. |
| Allows teachers to deal with photocopying limitations. |
| Provides a forum for teacher sharing and feedback. |
Benefits for Parents:
| Enables parents to monitor homework and upcoming assignments. | ||
| Helps parents feel more connected. | ||
| Offers parents a place to view student's work. |
SUMMARY:
Our article addresses the beneftis of using multimedia in the classroom and how both students, teachers and parents can gain from this use of technology. What is significant about multimedia for students is that it helps engage them by using audio and visual techniques. It is simple for them to follow along while incorporating useful information. Teachers on the other hand are able to turn lessons around and focus them more on the students. Instead of a lesson ultimately being the teacher participating, the teacher is able to involve students in a more accessible way. Parents also find this source of teaching useful because they can now keep monitor of homework and assignments while also feeling more 'connected' to their student.
"FURTHER RESEARCH"
The article talks about how students learn better and retain the information they have learned for a longer period of time. It would be interesting to see if this is because they actually participate and had a say in how the lesson turned out instead of just listening in class. Maybe there should be a board or group that is made up of teachers, parents and high school students that address works best for learning in the classroom, the students could tell you what ways work best for them, and the teachers could make sure they meet state guide lines, and parents can give their opinions. With the many events in the world today happening so fast, they may need to reinvent the way they teach history, and teach the old by way of a textbook and compare it to today by way of multimedia.
You can engage students in learning during lessons by using multimedia aspects. Anywhere from virtual field trips to digital photography matching and recognition lessons. Flash animation gets students attention because of the movement and sequences. FLASH animation can be controlled by the student and/or teacher because they have control over the sequences and speeds of the video or slide. Multimedia can touch all aspects of learning styles by incorporating sounds, music, graphics, photographs, and videos. There are many great sites that provide good examples of multimedia and animation used as instructional material in the classroom including http://brainpop.com and http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov. The use of technology in the classroom encourages students to make their work look more presentable if being seen on a web page and is more engaging to them than a traditional lesson. To teachers the use of multimedia is a way for the student to creatively and constructively represent what they have learned and be there own "designer."
"Reflecting/Opinion"
Multimedia in the classroom seems like such a perfect way to spice up teaching/learning. It seems as though students get bored when there is no variety. Using multimedia is also accommodating to the diverse learning preferences. This simple concept benefits not only the students, but the teachers and the parents. Students can enjoy learning and will be more motivated to learn, teachers will act more on guidance than lecturing, and parents will be able to connect with their child's work.
Multimedia is the perfect way to expose children to new ways of teaching. Not only is it useful for the students, but the teacher's work load is lessened by the ease of this type of teaching. Students like to be interactive and are always trying to find ways to escape sitting at their desks, doing labor intensive work. This is a way to captivate their minds in a way in which they become fascinated with the learning material that is presented.
