Multimedia Learning Theories and Online Instruction

Online library instruction has not traditionally been designed based on educational learning theories. Rather, much of it has been designed in the structure and format of print, with little thought given to the peda- gogical approaches that support Web-based earning. Several relevant multimedia learning theories are surveyed in this article and compared with two versions of the same library tutorial—an HTML tutorial, and a streaming audio and video tutorial. ormal programs of instruction for library users in higher ed- ucation date from the 1970s, when the position of biblio- graphic instructional librarian became a necessity; the earliest programs included various modes of presentation, from tra- ditional classroom teaching (lecture) to preprogrammed self-instructional materi- als. The laer were composed originally of print, but this form of instruction is now almost exclusively Web based. Most library instruction delivered via the Web is designed in the style and hierarchical structure of print, with little thought given to the pedagogical approaches supporting learning through Web-based instruction. 1 Very lile online library in- struction utilizes the full flexibility of the Web or employs a learner-centered, cogni- tive approach to multimedia learning. 2