Forquestion2.docxWhen Technology Becomes the Message
In our last "complete" module we’re visiting a popular theory on media, made decades ago by Marshall McLuhan, “the medium is the message.” This visionary world view has been debated on many levels. However, at its core there is research to support the statement.
Why are we visiting this statement? Understanding Marshall McLuhan’s view helps us consider the reality we live in when it comes to multimedia learning, and how to best cope with that reality.
The Medium is the Message
Here are three different views on Marshall McLuhan’s statement.
This first video gives a sincere introduction to Marshall McLuhan’s core message. The video exudes the philosophical and somewhat abstract mindset you need to descend into to approach this topic
Now you have an overview into the world we’re learning about. But what exactly is a medium? How can it really have more affect than message/content itself? The next video starts to fill in the blanks.
You may now understand “the medium is the message.” – but can it really be true? In my life, I’ve been personally affected by how the “medium”. The way in which a program was taught affected me more than the content itself. See the video below.
Give me more examples
https://soundcloud.com/user-433569679/need-examples-when-technology-becomes-the-message
What does this mean for me?
The key takeaways from Marshall McLuhan’s theory, in relation to Multimedia Learning, are:
· Value
· Variety
· Practice
Value of Medium
In creation of any multimedia learning content, we need to value the medium we are using. What qualities does a medium offer? How can you exploit those qualities? Here are some helpful links to help place value on any given medium in a learning environment:
https://sites.google.com/site/principlesofinstructionalmedia/selecting-media
http://www.patsulamedia.com/usefo/usableword/report20020201_mediaselection_criteria.shtml
Variety of Mediums
If you are teaching a concept over a longer period of time, you need to be aware of how the continued use of one medium may be limiting the application of your message. Even if you are only creating bite-sized pieces of multimedia content, using one medium all the time limits the feedback you get on your message being filtered by the power of the medium itself. So use all the mediums you know all the time, and learn more.
Practice
