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Cognitive load and learning effects of having students organize pictures and words in multimedia environments: The role of student interactivity and feedback

Educational Technology Research and Development volume 53, pages 35–45 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

The cognitive load and learning effects of dual-code and interactivity—two multimedia methods intended to promote meaningful learning—were examined. In Experiment 1, college students learned about the causal chain of events leading to the process of lightning formation with a set of words and corresponding pictures (Group WP), pictures (Group P), or words (Group W). Some students were presented with the organized causal chain of events to study, whereas others were given a self-organization task. Consistent with a cognitive theory of multimedia learning, Condition WP was the highest in instructional efficiency for retention and transfer. However, contrary to our predictions, having students organize the multimedia materials was detrimental to transfer. Two follow-up experiments tested the hypotheses that the negative effects of interactivity were due to students' lack of time control (Experiment 2) and the form of feedback (Experiment 3). The findings showed that interactivity was effective when students were asked to evaluate their answers before receiving corrective feedback from the system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Educational Psychology Program, University of New Mexico, Simpson Hall 123, 87131, Albuquerque, NM

    Roxana Moreno & Alfred Valdez

Authors
  1. Roxana Moreno
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  2. Alfred Valdez
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Correspondence to Roxana Moreno or Alfred Valdez.

Additional information

This research was supported by the CAREER 0238385 grant from the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Casey Frechette and Paul Gibson created the multimedia materials used in these studies.

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Moreno, R., Valdez, A. Cognitive load and learning effects of having students organize pictures and words in multimedia environments: The role of student interactivity and feedback. ETR&D 53, 35–45 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02504796

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02504796

Keywords

  • Cognitive Load
  • Causal Chain
  • Dual Code
  • Cognitive Load Theory
  • Educational Technology Research