Looking at the example of one of the company’s training modules, it may be concluded that the scheme lacks visibility. Too many mistakes have been made while creating the model, that is why the employees make too many mistakes in preparing espresso drinks and the company suffers greatly. Having considered the situation, it is obvious that multimedia and contiguity principles should be incorporated with the purpose to increase the company income by means of better training of the employees.
It is an already proved fact that multimedia is the best way for teaching anything. It is usually explained by the mechanism of memory perception (Silber, & Foshay, 2009). Using the basic principles of instructional design, multimedia and contiguity ones, the report is going to focus on argumentative discussion of their validity and necessity.
The main principle of multimedia is that the words should be supported with pictures, graphs, etc. Even though words are considered the best means for communicating the information, graphs are aimed at better perception of those words and their memorizing. The research conducted in the sphere of multimedia effect has proven that such principle is the best way for learning. Statistics shows that the learning outcome from words alone is 35% in comparison with 65% of the effectiveness from the usage of multimedia principle. Providing the learning modules for making latte, it is important to include animation, nit only the pictures.
The main reason for such argumentation is that we are to teach employees the process of making coffee. Pictures will do, but animation will be better perceived due to the memory peculiarities of people. However, “animation may overload the learner’s working memory because the images are so rich in detail and are so transitory that they must be held in memory” (Clark & Mayer, 2008, p. 84). Therefore, depending on the situation and the necessity, the company should combine simple pictures and animation when particular process is discussed.
There are two specific contiguity principles we are going to apply for maintaining a particular learning module for making latte, placing printed words near corresponding pictures or graphics or synchronizing spoken words with corresponding animation.
Ether the pictures or the animation are used, the words should explain exactly what is shown. It is inappropriate to describe an action in advance. Everything should depend on the nature of the information which should be delivered (Clark & Mayer, 2008). One should remember that the abounding of the pictures, animation and words may lead to opposite result. Therefore, the balance should be gained in using multimedia and contiguity principles (Locatis, 2001)
Therefore, it may be concluded that the use of multimedia and contiguity principles is supported with strong arguments. Describing the process for making latte, employees should not only listen to the words and see the pictures, they should also relate the words to the specific pictures and consider the process. Process consideration is possible if the animation is used. The better and detailed animation and words are in the instruction training modules, the better outcome of the learning are and the higher the company income is.
The recommendations for Tasty Coffee Company are as follows, using multimedia and contiguity principles while creating a training program for employees the company should think about the most effective ways using pictures, animation and words to make the learning productive and for the company benefit.
Reference List
Clark, R. C. & Mayer, R.E. (2008). E-learning and the science of instruction (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Wiley.
Locatis, C. (2001). Instructional design theory and the development of multimedia programs. In K. Medsker & K. Holdsworth (Eds.), Models and strategies for Designing Training (pp. 355-373) Silver Spring, Maryland: International Society for Performance Improvement.
Silber, K. H. & Foshay, W. R. (2009). Handbook of Improving Performance in the Workplace, Instructional Design and Training Delivery. New York: John Wiley and Sons.