What is Instructional Multimedia

We shoudl answer the question of what is multimedia prior to answer what is instructional multimedia? Multimedia is the use of computers to present text, graphics, video, animation, and sound in an integrated way. Long touted as the future revolution in computing, multimedia applications were, until the mid-90s, uncommon due to the expensive hardware required. With increases in performance and decreases in price, however, multimedia is now commonplace. Nearly all PCs are capable of displaying video, though the resolution available depends on the power of the computer's video adapter and CPU. [http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/m/multimedia.html] While, A multimedia instructional message is a presentation consisting of words and pictures that is designed to foster meaningful learning. Thus, there are two parts to the definition: (a) the presentation contains words and pictures, and (b) the presentation is designed to foster meaningful learning” (Mayer 2003: 128) According to me, instructional multimedia is the harmonious combination of two or more media such as text, graphics, animation, video, and sounds in an integrated way using computer technology to addressed instructional goals. The simplest instructional multimedia is slide presentation using MS Power Point for example or using ather application such as dream weaver, authorware, etc. Instructional media also can be designed as a medium for independent learning. It means instructional media can be learned by students any time any where. Types of multimedia can be categorizd into six categories, i.e. (1) tutorials; (2) drills and practices; (3) games; (4) simulations; (5) encyclopedia; and (6) hybrid.