Multimodal Learning has been defined as “The more different ways you learn something, the more you will remember it!

Reference: (https://multimodallearningenvironments.wikispaces.com/1.%29+What+is+multimodal+learning%3F - Lazear, 2008, Gardner, 1985)

In the “Principles of Multi-Modal Learning” video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b17YT-m2DGk) by Visual Musical Minds, they describe multimodal learning as “the belief that when multiple learning modes are effectively used together, the learner will gain a better understanding of the concept.”

In this screenshot, they explain how research shows that multimodal videos are effective at improving student performance for both basic and advanced skills as well as in interactive and non-interactive environments, but they are most effective when used to present complex material in an interactive environment.

They conclude with a good reminder: “the core of multimodal learning is communicating your concept in the most effective way possible…”

Coursera is a great example!

I can see this method being played out in our Coursera course with the use of video, text transcriptions, quizzes, discussion forums, essential updates, and peer-to-peer reviews and assessments. There are multiple touchpoints that all help to reinforce the subject matter presented by our teachers that force us to think above and beyond just consuming the information being presented.

This style of teaching does a good job of hitting the four different types of learners:

Reference:
https://blog.prezi.com/the-four-different-types-of-learners-and-what-they-mean-to-your-presentations-infographic/

1. Visual Learners: Prefer to see info and to visualize the relationships between ideas
2. Auditory Learners: Prefer to hear info rather than reading it or seeing it displayed visually
3. Reading / Writing Learners: Learn best when -- you guessed it -- reading and writing; interacting with text is more powerful for them than hearing or seeing images
4. Kinesthetic Learners: Hands-on, experiential learners; they learn best by doing

Scholar is Multimodal

In this “Welcome to Scholar” video, Mr. Tate introduces us the platform and provides more detail:

The Scholar writing platform is built to leverage the Seven Learning Transformations:

1. Ubiquitous: Students can work by themselves or together, anywhere, anytime
2. Multimodal: Students can write and represent what they know with text, image, video, audio, data, and any other file, all inline
3. Active Learning: Students write as much as they read; they are knowledge makers, not just knowledge consumers
4. Rich Feedback
5. Collaborative
6. Metacognition
7. Differentiation

“Through mobile phones, the Internet, electronic mail, television, radio, newspapers, books etc. people receive every day about 105,000 words or 23 words per second in half a day (12 hours) (during awake hours). Although people can not really read these 105,000 words each day, this is the real number estimated to be reaching the human eyes and ears every day. After adding pictures, videos, games, etc., we reach the volume of 34 gigabytes of information per day on average.” (Reference: http://www.tech21century.com/the-human-brain-is-loaded-daily-with-34-gb-of-information/)

It seems to me that our cultures are forcing educators to move into multimodal learning environments just to give our students a fighting chance to succeed.

Their minds are constantly being distracted, disrupted, and are fatigued. Our brains are constantly being rewired by daily interactions via information delivered on our devices.

In the article titled “Class can I have your attention,” (Reference: https://www.steelcase.com/insights/articles/class-can-i-have-your-attention/) Andrew Kim states “A big problem is that traditional learning experiences are not aligned with how the brain works, particularly as it relates to attention.”

He goes on to speak to how students around the world are more scattered due to paying more attention to digital devices than the coursework at hand.

It's my belief that the use of multiple touch points in the learning process seems to be the best way to keep students engaged and interested in learning.