Use of Multimedia in the Classroom and its Effects on Student Learning

The use of multimedia in the classroom has become a popular instructional method in recent years because of the assumption that the use of multiple modes addresses the differing learning styles present of students. Prior studies on the effectiveness of multimedia’s abilities to improve student learning have conflicting results (Krippel, McKee, & Moody, 2010). In this self-study research, I incorporate different mediums (i.e., text, image, video, and simulation) into daily lessons throughout the year to examine how these tools affect students’ learning and their ability to gain and improve skills necessary to understand concepts in social sciences. I collected data from student work, field notes, and lesson plans. Analysis of these data sources indicates that each results were inconsistent between mediums but there is evidence of improvement in student social science skills (e.g., critical thinking and decision making) and students’ recall and transfer capabilities.