Definition of SCI-FI by Hazel Liu

I chose the video I created in EDCI 339 and upgrade it with the current understanding of multimedia learning principles in this course. The goal of this video is to instruct the definition of science fiction.

I have changed some elements based on multimedia principles and theories. Firstly, I changed the opening page. Mayer (2014) proposes in the multimedia principles that engaging visuals can increase the effectiveness of the video. I thought the previous one was not intriguing enough and did not outstand that this is my personal instructional video.

Secondly, I have changed the background and font colors for many times. In the end, I decide to change the purple and black background to white or black. The font colors are mainly the high-contrast colors, which can highlight the content. According to Merrill’s second principle, colors can be used to stand out the contents form the background, emphasizing the main ideas to make sure readers can see it at first glance.

When I was changing colors, I also left more negative space in the video to represent the contents. I try to use the high-contrast colors to experiment the visual effects to create a distinct visual form to engage viewers.

When it comes to the elements that I do not change, I decide not using the background music. Mayer (2014) proposes the coherence principle and argues that when teaching, teachers should not include too much non-related elements in the lesson plan, such as background music.  Secondly, I did not upgrade the three parts in contents. According to Mayer (2014)’s Segmenting Principle, it is important to keep the video short. Shorter videos helps the audience to choose the topic and makes it easier for the audience to process the information and retain it. Therefore, I do not change the previous three parts, including H.G. Wells’ original descriptions about sci-fi, definition approaches, and popular definition from Professor Jon Paul Henry. Each part is still about 2 minutes.

In terms of accessibility and equity, I get inspired by the practical design choices in week 4. I use a simple and plain language to define science fiction. And I upload the revised video through Google Drive and choose the option that everyone can view and comment. Viewers can have full playback controls according to their pace.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wEqNEfukh6g5XCN9UeKCKH95D4ieQH9M/view?usp=sharing

References

Inclusive Design for Social Media: Tips for Creating Accessible Channels (hootsuite.com) (10 min) – Practical advice on how to avoid excluding people using assistive technologies from your social media sites – applicable to many other forms of media (ignore the sales pitch)

Mayer, R. E., & Fiorella, L. (2014). Principles for reducing extraneous processing in multimedia learning: Coherence, signaling, redundancy, spatial contiguity, and temporal contiguity. In R.E. Mayer (Ed.), The Cambridge handbook of multimedia learning (pp. 279-315). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Merrill on Instructional Design – (5 min)- Merrill is one of the pioneers of modern instructional design thinking from a problem-centred perspective. He reflects here in particular on multimedia design and delivery.