After this lesson, students will be able to identify and demonstrate examples of the Multimedia and Contiguity Principles. The Multimedia Principle states that information presented with both text and pictures provides deeper learning than text alone. The Contiguity Principle indicates that people learn more easily when text is located close to the visuals it describes or when spoken words and visuals are presented simultaneously.

1. Lesson Objectives
After this lesson, students will be able to identify
and demonstrate examples of the Multimedia
and Contiguity Principles through examples.

2. Multimedia Principle
Information presented with text and pictures
provide for deeper learning than compared to
text alone.

3. The pictures in these steps make it easier to understand
the instructions.

4. Do visuals really make a difference? Well, remember those cell
models in high school? Imagine how much harder it would have
been to memorize the structures without a visual representation. .

5. Take a look at some examples that do NOT follow
the Multimedia Principle.

6. This website shows a graphic of the weather, but the
written description is below.

7. This picture is considered a decorative graphic because
it does not help readers to understand the text.

8. These set of instructions are set
apart from the pictures. Followers
would have a better understanding
if the text and pictures were connected
in some way.

9. Contiguity Principle
People learn with more ease when text is
located close to the visuals it describes or
when spoken word and visuals are presented at
the same time.

10. For the novice driver, having the visual and text provide for
deeper understanding.

11. This is not a good example of the Contiguity Principle.
The text and picture are separated.

12. This graph shows an example of the Contiguity Principle
because the words are located closely to the picture it
represents. We can easily read the graph.

13. In this graph the words are not close to the pictures
it represents. This graph requires more effort to read
and interpret.

14. Here is another example of a web site using the
Contiguity Principle. The question and answer are
on the same page.

15. This web site breaks the fundamentals of the Contiguity
Principle. The user has to scroll down to the bottom of
the page, past other stories to get to the questions.

16. Assessment
Which of the following give an accurate picture of the
Multimedia Principle?

17. Assessment
Right on! The one on the left adds meaningful words
to the picture.

18. Which one of these used the Multimedia Principle to show the
Swine Flu infection numbers?

19. The picture on the right gives data withing the picture. The
one on the right only gives words and numbers.

20. According to the Contiguity Principle, which of these
below would most help someone to tie a tie?

21. Bingo! The directions are located next to the pictures.

22. Answer these questions true or false.
1. The Multimedia Principle can include the use of sound that goes along with
a visual presentation.
2. The Contiguity Principle allows for pictures and words to separated on the
screen they appear.
3. These principles are designed to enhance the quality of learning and decrease
the level of frustration on the part of the learner.

23. Answers
1. The Multimedia Principle can include the use of sound that goes along with
a visual presentation. True
2. The Contiguity Principle allows for pictures and words to separated on the
screen they appear. False
3. These principles are designed to enhance the quality of learning and decrease
the level of frustration on the part of the learner. True

24. Sources
Clark, R.C., Mayer, R. E. (2008). E-Learning and the Science of Instruction.
San Francisco, Pfeiffer.
Flickr Creative Commons images
http://www.tv411.org/reading/
www.pearsonlongman.com/ae/marketing/sfesl/florida/.../grade8.pdf
www.noaa.gov