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43 - Multimedia Learning with Visual Displays

from Part VIII - Multimedia Learning with Media

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 November 2021

By
Matthew T. McCrudden  and
Peggy N. Van Meter
Edited by
Richard E. Mayer  and
Logan Fiorella
Richard E. Mayer
Affiliation:
University of California, Santa Barbara
Logan Fiorella
Affiliation:
University of Georgia
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Summary

A visual display is a graphic representation of information communicated to learners. In this chapter, we review research-based principles for the design of visual displays. We begin by providing an overview of visual displays and presenting the case for visual displays in education. This chapter also describes a theoretical framework for understanding how people learn with visual displays and reviews research-based principles for designing visual displays to improve learning. Specifically, we identify three common forms of extraneous processing (induced via spatial distance, unimportant information, and referential confusion) and how to reduce them using research-based principles (spatial contiguity principle, coherence principle, and signaling principle). In addition, we discuss ways to promote generative processing and how different types of graphic organizers (sequence, hierarchy, matrix) can support different types of inferences (temporal, hierarchical, relational). We conclude with a discussion of future directions for research on visual displays.

Keywords

visual displaygraphic organizersinferencesextraneous processinggenerative processing
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Multimedia Learning , pp. 510 - 520
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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