The educational potential of multimedia authoring as a part of the earth science curriculum - A case study

The purpose of this study was to assess the potential of multimedia authori ng, as a learning tool, using the software ASTOUND. The subjects in this st udy were 32 students in two Grade 12 classes. The context of the study was a multi-disciplinary environmental unit about earthquakes. Students were pr ovided with basic background about earthquakes via laboratory experiments a nd field trips. At a later stage, the students did in-depth independent pro jects on selected topics related to earthquakes. Once completed, the studen ts presented their projects using the multimedia software ASTOUND. The rese arch consisted of the following stages: a pre-development phase; curriculum design phase; implementation and evaluation. The research tools included: questionnaires, interviews, observations, concept mapping, and an analysis of the multimedia presentations. The findings showed that an integration of laboratory exercises, field trips, and an independent study project, could lead to meaningful learning. However, although most of the students enjoye d using the multimedia program, there was no evidence to support the assump tion that it contributed to knowledge acquisition. In fact, much of the tim e invested in multimedia authoring was devoted to producing decorative effe cts, reducing the time available for meaningful learning. (C) 2000 John Wil ey & Sons, Inc.