Why should you take instructional media into consideration?
The use of different media provides, for example information in
a meaningful context and makes the learning environment more a
varied. Oral and written communication are the two most common
forms of transmitting knowledge in educational settings. However,
learning with only these forms of communication limits how students
see the world. Curricula should adopt additional media, such as
video, computer, photographs, and sound, to provide richer experiences.
On the other hand, the teacher should take into consideration
that the development of useful instructional visual and audio
media is very time-consuming and costs a lot of money. So, the
benefit should be clear. Therefore an overview should be made
which media are used with their special benefit, included with
the available time and money needed.
Especially instructional media is used for explanations with the purpose of e.g., introduction, feedback (on assignments), or for supporting a simulation. A special purpose for the use of sound could be to decrease the amount of text for learners with for instance low motivation or a reading disorder.