A cognitive approach to user perception of multimedia quality: An empirical investigation

Whilst multimedia technology has been one of the main contributing factors behind the Web's success, delivery of personalized multimedia content has been a desire seldom achieved in practice. Moreover, the perspective adopted is rarely viewed from a cognitive styles standpoint, notwithstanding the fact that they have significant effects on users’ preferences with respect to the presentation of multimedia content. Indeed, research has thus far neglected to examine the effect of cognitive styles on users’ subjective perceptions of multimedia quality. This paper aims to examine the relationships between users’ cognitive styles, the multimedia quality of service delivered by the underlying network, and users’ quality of perception (understood as both enjoyment and informational assimilation) associated with the viewed multimedia content. Results from the empirical study reported here show that all users, regardless of cognitive style, have higher levels of understanding of informational content in multimedia video clips (represented in our study by excerpts from television programmes) with weak dynamism, but that they enjoy moderately dynamic clips most. Additionally, multimedia content was found to significantly influence users’ levels of understanding and enjoyment. Surprisingly, our study highlighted the fact that Bimodal users prefer to draw on visual sources for informational purposes, and that the presence of text in multimedia clips has a detrimental effect on the knowledge acquisition of all three cognitive style groups

The implementation of a multimedia learning environment for graduate civil engineers

This paper examines the underpinning theory, design and implementation of a computer‐based Multimedia Learning Environment (MLE) for graduate civil engineers. The MLE brings together multimedia technology and Intelligent Tutoring Systems techniques for the purpose of developing in the graduate engineer the skills and understanding needed to produce initial design proposals for real‐world dam spillway design problems

Data mining technology for the evaluation of learning content interaction

Interactivity is central for the success of learning. In e-learning and other educational multimedia environments, the evaluation of interaction and behaviour is particularly crucial. Data mining – a non-intrusive, objective analysis technology – shall be proposed as the central evaluation technology for the analysis of the usage of computer-based educational environments and in particular of the interaction with educational content. Basic mining techniques are reviewed and their application in a Web-based third-level course environment is illustrated. Analytic models capturing interaction aspects from the application domain (learning) and the software infrastructure (interactive multimedia) are required for the meaningful interpretation of mining results

Kesan interaksi atribut persembahan multimedia, gaya kognitif, peringkat pengajian dan bidang pengajian ke atas daya ingatan visual pelajar IPT

Various multimedia presentation attributes contribute different positive effect on the visual recall memory due to factors such as different cognitive style, field of study and level of study. The positive effects could not be optimised if the most effective combination of the factors is not identified. This study aimed to identify the main effects and interaction effects of multimedia presentation format or attribute (line drawing pictures, black and white pictures, colour pictures, animation, animationaudio), cognitive styles (field dependence (FD), field independence (FI), level of study (year one, year three) and field of study (art-based, non-art-based) on the visual recall among students in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Malaysia. The sample consisted of 400 year one and three university students. This experimental study used 5 x 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design. The findings showed that the main effects of format of multimedia presentation, cognitive style, level of education and field of study on visual recall were significant. The results showed that students who viewed animated presentation obtained better mean scores on visual recall than students who viewed other presentation formats. Students with FI cognitive styles were found to recall better than the FD students, while students from non-art-based field obtained better scores than students from the art-based field. Year one students were found to have better visual recall than year three students. The interaction effect of format of multimedia presentation and level of education on visual recall was significant. The three-way interaction effect between cognitive styles, level of education and field of study as well as the interaction effect between format of multimedia presentation, level of education and field of study on visual recall were significant. Findings of the study support the effectiveness of multimedia presentation in enhancing the visual recall memory. However, the most effective attribute should be aligned with the students’ cognitive style, field of study and level of study so as to achieve the intended learning outcomes

Thesaurus-assisted search term selection and query expansion: a review of user-centred studies

This paper provides a review of the literature related to the application of domain-specific thesauri in the search and retrieval process. Focusing on studies which adopt a user-centred approach, the review presents a survey of the methodologies and results from empirical studies undertaken on the use of thesauri as sources of term selection for query formulation and expansion during the search process. It summaries the ways in which domain-specific thesauri from different disciplines have been used by various types of users and how these tools aid users in the selection of search terms. The review consists of two main sections covering, firstly studies on thesaurus-aided search term selection and secondly those dealing with query expansion using thesauri. Both sections are illustrated with case studies that have adopted a user-centred approach

Personalised Learning: Educational, Technological and Standardisation Perspective

The e-Learning paradigm shift capitalises on two main aspect: the elimination of the barriers of time and distance, and the personalisation of the learners’ experience. The current trend in education and training emphasises on identifying methods and tools for delivering just-in-time, on-demand knowledge experiences tailored individual learners, taking into consideration their differences in skills level, perspectives, culture and other educational contexts. This paper reviews the shift towards personalised learning, from an educational, technological and standardisation perspective.The e-Learning paradigm shift capitalises on two main aspect: the elimination of the barriers of time and distance, and the personalisation of the learners’ experience. The current trend in education and training emphasises on identifying methods and tools for delivering just-in-time, on-demand knowledge experiences tailored individual learners, taking into consideration their differences in skills level, perspectives, culture and other educational contexts. This paper reviews the shift towards personalised learning, from an educational, technological and standardisation perspective

Accommodating the Needs of Field Dependent Learners in Simulation Gaming Environments

The field dependency and independency cognitive style affects the academic performance of students. It has been generally accepted that the needs of field dependent students could be accommodated in learning environments. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two instructional support features (model transparency and feedback) on the performance of field dependent and field independent students in a Web-based simulation environment. In this study, there were two treatment groups. One group, consisting of 14 participants, received a black-box simulation (no model transparency) with no feedback (black-box + no feedback), and another group, consisting of 8 participants, received a glass-box simulation (with model transparency) with feedback feature (glass-box + feedback). The model transparency was provided in text-only format. The feedback was diagnostic and immediate. To assess the participants’ cognitive style, the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT) was implemented. The participants’ achievements were evaluated with a performance assessment method that showed the near-transfer skills. The results of this study revealed that the simulation performance was similar for both the participants interacting with the glass-box simulation with feedback feature and the participants interacting with the black-box simulation with no feedback feature. There was no statistically significant correlation between participants’ degree of field independency (GEFT scores) and their simulation performance. Finally, there was no interaction between the treatments and the cognitive style of participants. Significant performance differences were reported in the literature for field dependent and field independent students in learning environments. The results of this study were contradictory to the literature review. Directions for future research are discussed

Chapter 1 : Learning Online

The OTiS (Online Teaching in Scotland) programme, run by the now defunct Scotcit programme, ran an International e-Workshop on Developing Online Tutoring Skills which was held between 8–12 May 2000. It was organised by Heriot–Watt University, Edinburgh and The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK. Out of this workshop came the seminal Online Tutoring E-Book, a generic primer on e-learning pedagogy and methodology, full of practical implementation guidelines. Although the Scotcit programme ended some years ago, the E-Book has been copied to the SONET site as a series of PDF files, which are now available via the ALT Open Access Repository. The editor, Carol Higgison, is currently working in e-learning at the University of Bradford (see her staff profile) and is the Chair of the Association for Learning Technology (ALT)