Instructional media can be defined as the tools that are used by educators to convey knowledge to learners. This is because learning cannot be conveyed through word of mouth and therefore, it is important for every educator to have them at hand (Scalan, n.d).
The tools include chalk boards, compact disks, films, and handouts, among many others. These tools are used by educators to enhance the understanding of learners with regard to the topics that have been taught in the classroom.
Instructional media are used for various reasons in the ISD process. The first one being that they attract the attention of the learner. If an educator stood in front of learners and gave lecturers without instructional media, the lesson could be boring and most learners can be distracted by other events.
A few writings on the chalk board go a long way towards drawing the attention of learners. This is because when a leaner sees that the educator has written something on the board he/she will focus on what is being said about those writings.
Additionally, instructional media makes learning interesting. When there are films and compact discs the learning process is enhanced because films and videos, in particular, integrate entertainment into the learning process.
Besides, when there are computers involved learners can perform other tasks due to the multitasking ability of computers such as playing a computer game or watching a movie.
Scanlan (n.d) argues that this gives them freedom and thus they do not feel confined in the classroom. This can have a positive impact, especially among young learners.
When learning becomes interesting, the learners can hardly skip classes and this causes their performance to improve. Likewise, the media contains insights from different persons and thus, can be understood better.
The language that is used in instructional media is sometimes appealing to the learners and this makes them accept the concepts that are explained by the media. In essence, instructional media such as compact disks provide convenience for the learners such that they can revisit them any time regardless of their location.
In this regard, an educator does not just choose instructional media; there are several considerations that drive him/her towards choosing instructional media.
The first issue revolves around the availability of the media. An educator could be willing to employ instructional media, but then if the institution he/she works for does not have such materials he/she has to carry on without them. If the materials are available the educator will choose the ones he/she is familiar with.
Consequently, if the available materials are sophisticated, he/she will avoid using them because he/she does not have the skills required to use them. For instance, if an educator is not computer literate he/she will be reluctant to use computers even if they are plenty in the institution.
Furthermore, Russell et al. (2000) outline that the mode of learning influences the use of instructional media. For instance, learners who are in virtual classes, or in other words, distance learning require instructional material because the distance between them and the learning facility becomes a barrier.
There are several guidelines that are applied when selecting instructional media. First, the educator has to find out whether the environment favors his/her preferred media.
This is because it would be insane to recommend the use of computers and films to learners who hail from locations that do not have electricity. In addition, the educator has to consider whether the media can accommodate all his/her learners.
For instance, if handouts are to be used he/she should check that they are enough for everyone. This is because if they are scarce the learners may hesitate from using them, probably due to lack of money.
Similarly, the educator should ensure that the learners are acquainted with his/her preferred instruction media. If they do not know how to use it, the educator’s objective will not be achieved.
References
Scanlan, C. L. (n.d.). Instructional Media: Selection and Use. Web.
Russell, J.D. et al. (2000). Instructional Technology for Teaching and Learning: Designing Instruction, Integrating Computers, and Using Media (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Merril.