Introduction
Media are meant for broadcasting and publishing information. These media are defined as
transmitters of information which are considered as "carriers of messages from some
transmitting source (which may be a human being or an inanimate object) "to the receiver of the
message" Media includes the means to create, store and present instructional content including
tools such as chalk and talk, books and computers, slide projectors, video projection, document
cameras, audio and video systems, etc. Each medium has its own unique characteristic and
essential pedagogical implications which is selected according to the learners' need and
instructional objectives. In multimedia approach, different media (new and/or old) are integrated
together for better teaching and learning. It is defined as the presentation of instruction that
involves more than one delivery media, presentation mode and/or sensory modality.
Multimedia Approach
Multimedia approach to teaching – learning may be referred to the use of appropriate and
carefully selected varieties of learning experiences which when presented to the learner through
selected teaching strategies, will reinforce and strengthen one another in such a way that the
learner will achieve predetermined objectives in an effective way. It is an approach of teaching in
which different mediums are incorporated to make the teaching-learning more effective,
enthusiastic, inspirational, meaningful & interesting. It is one of the important innovations in the
field of education technology to improve the process & product of education or teaching.
Definition
Multimedia is the exciting combination of computer hardware and software that allows
you to integrate video, animation, audio, graphics, and test resource to develop effective
presentations on an affordable desktop computer (Fenrich, 1997).
Meaning
Multimedia is derived from the two words: Multi - means many or multiple and Media -
means a way of conveying information. Thus multimedia means using more than one media’.
The teaching – learning process carried out through a number of media is termed as multimedia
approach to education. It aims at providing meaningful learning experience and thus improves
the process of teaching-learning.
Characteristics of Multimedia
Multimedia is the use of a number of media, devices and techniques for teaching-
learning.
It is the contribution and net result of the researches and experiments going on in the
subject of education technology for improving the process and products of the act of
teaching-learning.
The variety of media are carefully selected as to prove quite effective in providing
learning experiences to the learners for achieving the pre-determined teaching-learning
objectives.
While selecting different media for adopting multimedia approach it is cared that the
presence of one must increase the effect of others.
It asks for the judicious and planned use of the hardware and software available in
the field of educational technology.
Several media and techniques can be effectively used as appropriate vehicles for the
needed communication of ideas in the process of teaching-learning.
Nature of Multimedia Approach
Multimedia approach uses a number of media, devices, techniques, in the teaching
learning process.
Multimedia approach has come out of researches and experiments in educational
technology that have been undertaken in order to improve the process of teaching
learning.
Multimedia approach aims at providing meaningful learning experiences via a mix in
order to achieve predetermined objectives.
The choice of the media has to be done carefully so that one does not hamper or reduce
the effect of the other i.e. each media must complement here after.
The media have to used sequentially and judiciously. Only necessary ones are to be used.
Then it would be possible to make optimum use of them in a most economical manner.
In multimedia approach, several media and techniques are used as powerful means of
communication.
Role of Teacher in Multimedia Approach
The teacher has to make a lot of modifications and adjustment if he has to adopt multimedia
approach. His role would have a different connotation compared to the traditional role.
The teacher has to adopt a number of methods and techniques.
Teacher has to aware of the different available media and their availability.
Teacher should be physically competent to use and demonstrate the use of the different
media.
