Blog Post Final Project Complete

Dear Dr. Rodriguez,

I removed the background soundtrack, as you suggested, and yes, it is easier to hear the narration.

I never intended for the text on the screen to be read, except maybe the largest titles, as part of this presentation to inform about my CE proposal, there is simply too much and it is mostly too small.  If someone can read parts of the website, that is fine but the intention is to introduce the purpose, explore the structure, and briefly consider the value and implications of the Social Network for Second Language Learning.  I hope the audience understands my proposal and plans and thinks about the technology and how it may be applied to the purpose of second language learning.

To illuminate my intent and elucidate my choices in this video, I will review some of the multi-media learning principles that were applied.

I used the multimedia principle, people learn better from words and pictures than from words alone (Fletcher & Tobias), by presenting information primarily with words and pictures.

I employed the split-attention principle, people learn better when words and pictures are physically and temporally integrated (Ayres & Sweller), in that the pictures shown at the time of the narration were representations of the content of the narration.

The redundancy principle, people learn better when the same information is not presented in more than one format (Sweller), was utilized in that text simply representing the content of the narration was not used.

The segmenting and modality principles, people learn better when a multimedia message is presented in learned-paced segments rather than as a continuous unit, and people learn better from a multimedia message when the words are spoken rather than written (Mayer), were incorporated in that the presentation is in three parts and the bulk of the information was in narration and not written.

I used the personalization, voice, and image principles, people learn better when the words of a multimedia presentation are in conversational style rather than formal style and when the words are spoken in a standard-accented human voice rather than a machine voice or foreign-accented human voice; but people do not necessarily learn better when the speaker’s image is on the screen (Mayer), by speaking in a normal conversational manner using my regular voice without electronic effects and not including my image in the presentation.

Applying these multi-media learning principles should help to improve communication and increase the viewers content knowledge while reducing their cognitive load.

However, I am not sure of the results. So, I must ask...

Did this video inform about my CE proposal?

Blog Post Final Project Part 2

This video for part 2 of the EDTE 286 Final Project was created mostly using the Camstudio screen capture program.  The clips from Camstudio plus one brain picture and a few background crowd ambience sound tracks (and applause and crickets) and two additional voiceovers were put together in Final Cut Pro 4.5.  The purpose of the crowd sounds in the background is to simulate a functioning social network.

It is difficult to apply the Multimedia Learning Principles in an exploration of a website with lots of text but I avoided any additional text and kept the information content in the audio with the images of the website as support.

The development of the website is just getting going and there are many things that will be added and changed before it is ready to use.  However, this brief overview should give everyone the basic idea.

The view screen in the blog is too small and I recommend clicking on the, 'watch on YouTube' link for a better picture.

Do you think a Social Network for Second Language Learning, as presented here, is useful in offering authentic communicative opportunity for second language learners?

Blog Post Final Project Introduction

This video was created in Final Cut Pro 4.5 which is old and does not support MP4.  The most difficult part was finding the clips and images.  I used a program called Visual Hub to convert the material from MP4 to DV and then back to MP4 after editing.  I spent way to much time on this... especially considering the result...

Considering Multimedia Learning based on research guidelines, this video is not demanding on the viewer.  The basic points are simple and mostly conveyed in the voice-over supported by images.

However, some specific principles were applied.  The Segmenting Principle was employed in that the Introduction was broken into three sections, each with a specific content.  The Signaling Principle was used by titling each of the sections to prepare the viewer for the forthcoming content.  The Modality Principle was applied by avoiding the use of text and focusing on the spoken word.  The Personalization Principle was utilized on the vocal quality to give a sense of urgency to the message.  The Image Principle was implemented in the avoidance of the narrator's image appearing in the video.

The soundtrack was intended to enhance the sense of urgency of the message.  The viewer should have an uncomfortable feeling that encourages them to action.  Hopefully the action is to think about how Internet technology can be applied to second language learning in creating authentic communication opportunities.    Overall, the feeling should be one of motivation to learn more about the Social Network for Second Language Learning and that will come in the next video.  So, was that feeling of motivation created?