Chapter 14: The Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning

The cognitive theory of multimedia learning was popularized by the work of Richard E. Mayer and other cognitive researchers who argue that multimedia supports the way that the human brain learns. They assert that people learn more deeply from words and pictures than from words alone, which is referred to as the multimedia principle (Mayer, 2005a). Multimedia researchers generally define multimedia as the combination of text and pictures; and suggest that multimedia learning occurs when we build mental representations from these words and pictures (Mayer, 2005b). The words can be spoken or written, and the pictures can be any form of graphical imagery including illustrations, photos, animation, or video. Multimedia instructional design attempts to use cognitive research to combine words and pictures in ways that maximize learning effectiveness.