Creating and Choosing the Most Effective Multimedia for the World Language Classroom

Created by: Kitt Starnes

Audience
K-12 World Language Teachers
Objective
World Language teachers will learn how to create and choose the most effective multimedia that
best incorporates Mayers principles for fostering generative processing and most supports
social constructivism in second-language acquisition. In addition, participants will learn how to
use a new web 2.0 tool.
Learning Theory
The goal of this multimedia presentation is to teach World Language teachers how to create and
choose the most effective multimedia for their classrooms. It is important to choose and create
multimedia presentations that will most enhance second-language acquisition. This
presentation will cater to the social constructivist approach that says through collaboration and
social situations, learners will advance in their language development, therefore constructing
new knowledge and skills from social interactions with teachers and peers.
A main concept borrowed from Vygotskys sociocultural theory is the fact that it is in the social
world that language learners observe and imitate others using language (Powell, 2009). In
addition, it is through collaboration and social situations that learners advance in their language
development, therefore constructing new knowledge and skills based on social interactions.
Students first act on what they already know and can do on their own and then with the help of
the teacher (by scaffolding), they learn a new concept based on what they were already doing
(Powell, 2009).
Mayers Principles for Fostering Generative Processing
The reason I have chosen Mayers principles for fostering generative processing is because I
feel like they are the most important ones in relation to second language teaching and
acquisition. Richard Mayers four principles for fostering generative processing include the
multimedia principle, personalization principle, voice principle and the image principle.
Mayers multimedia principle states that we learn better from words AND pictures opposed to
words alone. The personalization principle states that people learn better from multimedia
presentations when words are conversational rather than formal. The voice principle states that
people learn better when the narration is in a human voice instead of a machine voice, even
more so when they perceive the person to be more like them in gender and race. The image
principle states that people dont necessarily learn better when the speakers image is added to
the screen.

Appendix: Presenter Notes

Slide 1: Introductions (1 min)

This will be a brief overview of the presentation including the purpose, goals and intended
outcomes.
We will be learning to use a new Web 2.0 tool called Padlet.

Slide 2: What is multimedia learning? (1 min)

Brief explanation of the meaning of multimedia learning and its importance in the World
Language classroom.

Slide 3: What does multimedia look like in your classroom? (3 min.)

This slide will be an opportunity to open up a discussion about what multimedia means to the
participants and if and how they use it in their classrooms.

Slide 4: Mayers Principles for Fostering Generative Processing (3 min)

Before I start talking about Mayers Principles for fostering generative processing, I will first
explain that Mayer has 12 principles that support his theory for multimedia learning.
Then I will explain what Generative Processing means: organizing the incoming information into
coherent structures and integrating the new organized information with prior knowledge.
Mayers four principles for fostering this generative processing are the ones we are going to
discuss today: the Multimedia, Personalization, Voice and Image principles.
Slide 5: Go to http://padlet.com/kgstarne/multimedia (3 min)
Who has used Padlet before?
I will give a brief introduction about what it is and how it can be used in the classroom.
Double click on the wall to make a post.
Tell us your name, teaching position and a little about yourself!
Slide 6: Multimedia Principle (2 min)
What does multimedia learning mean?
The multimedia principle says that we learn better from words AND pictures rather than words
alone!
Explanation of the importance of teaching foreign language words with pictures opposed to the
English word.

Slide 7: Mal ejemplo (2 min)

Based on the multimedia principle, why is this slide bad?
How do you feel about what you see here?
Discuss why it is easy to slump into presenting vocabulary this way as a language teacher, but
how IMPORTANT it is to NOT do this.

Slide 8: Buen ejemplo (2 min)

Based on the multimedia principle, why is this good?
How do you feel about what you see here?
What do you think is so important to present vocabulary with pictures opposed to the English
words?

Slide 9: This will be an opportunity for participants to check out a YouTube Video that also
implements the Multimedia Principle. (2 min)
What do you think about this video?
How do you think world language students benefit from a video like this?
Slide 10: Lets try out the multimedia principle on Padlet! (7 min)
Double click on the wall to create a new post-it.
Give the post-it a title or add your name.
Add a URL, upload a file, and if your computer has camera and/or microphone you can add a
recording.
This will be on opportunity for participants to contribute to our Padlet.
Participants should take a few minutes to search and CHOOSE a GOOD example of multimedia
incorporating the multimedia principle, or CREATE a brief example and add to Padlet.
Slide 11: World Map (1 min)
Recap of what participants have started contributing to Padlet.
How does everyone feel with the multimedia principle?
What do you think about Padlet so far?
Slide 12: Personalization principle (3 min)
What is it? People learn better from multimedia when words or narration are presented in
conversational style rather than formal.
Why do you think this is this way?
Would you prefer someone talking AT you or talking WITH you?
How do you feel when things are presented in conversational style?
We will have a conversation about why this is so important in a World Language class.
Slide 13: Personalization Principle example (2 min)
How well does this video follow the personalization principle?
Allow students to answer this question and start a brief discussion on best ways to create
personalized presentations in a world language classroom.
Slide 14: Voice Principle (2 min)
What is it? People learn better when audio narration is in a human voice rather than a
machine/computer voice?
How do you feel when you listen to narrations made by a machine voice?
We will have a quick discussion about audio learning in second-language acquisition.
Slide 15: Voice principle example (2 min)
We wont actually watch the entire video, but we will have a discussion on the importance of
hearing a human voice opposed to a computer voice in learning a second language.
Pronunciation wouldnt be the same!
Slide 16: Image Principle (1 min)
People dont necessarily learn better when the speakers image is added on-screen.
Do you feel any different when the speaker's picture is added on-screen to the presentation?

Slide 17: Contribute to our Padlet! (6 min)

Create and/or choose multimedia to insert that best follows the principles for fostering
generative processing that you have learned here today and add to our Padlet!
Look at a couple examples that have been posted to Padlet.

Slide 18: Closing (2 min)

Wrap up the presentation.
Answer any questions.
Receive feedback.

References
Mayer, R. (2009). Multimedia Learning. Cambridge, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Powell, K. C., & Kalina, C. J. (2009). COGNITIVE AND SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVISM:
DEVELOPING TOOLS FOR AN EFFECTIVE CLASSROOM. Education, 130(2), 241-250.
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