A Thousand Words

In his seminal work, Multimedia Learning, Richard Mayer’s empirical research supports the use of pictures and other visual aids to enhance learning and promote comprehensive problem-solving. One of twelve principles developed by Mayer, the Multimedia Representation Principle states, “It is better to present an explanation in words and pictures than solely in words.” (Mayer, 2012) The use of multimedia in the design of didactic instruction builds connections between verbal and visual representations.

This knowledge has implications on the design of instructional materials and websites. As more and more instructors design materials to use in their classrooms and school districts tailor instruction to meet the needs of their students, many educators have become designers of their own materials. Additionally, many educators now assign multimedia assessments, allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge of concepts using verbal, textual, and visual elements.

Among the many tools available to capture images to use in instructional design, the cell phone camera now acts as a primary tool for the amateur photographer. Inexpensive, supplemental equipment, such as an olloclip, can be attached to a cell phone, adding varied focal-length lenses to the cell phone's camera.

The images use in this project were used in a botany presentation designed to illustrate plant structures. An olloclip was used to capture parts of a flower, which included, but not limited to, the pollen, anthers, stigma, style, and filaments.

Click HERE for more information on the olloclip.

Mayer, R. E.(2012). Multimedia learning.