11: Creating Multimedia Teaching Resources

Choosing the right tool is the first step to creating effective multimedia. This guide helps you match your learning goal to the best free or common tool and provides simple tips for using them effectively.

The best tool depends entirely on your goal. Ask yourself: "What do I want my learners to do or experience?"

• If your goal is to show a process, demonstrate a skill, or explain a complex concept, best format to choose is video, because it combines sight, sound, and movement to reduce cognitive load and keep learners engaged (Principle of Multimedia).
• If your goal is to provide a detailed explanation, offer verbal feedback, or create a podcast/voice-over, best format to choose is audio. Audio is great for listening practice, language learning, or delivering content in a way that is easily digestible (Principle of Modality).
• If your goal is delivering structured content, share information visually, or organize main points then the best format to choose is interactive slides/presentations. Slides help structure the lesson and make the information easy to navigate and review.

Here’s a simple guide to help you decide which multimedia tool or format to use, Here are examples of learning goals their best format to use, and an example.

• Show a process, demonstrate a skill, or explain complex ideas - Video, Combines sight, sound, and movement to improve understanding. (e.g., showing a science experiment or teaching a new software skill)
•  Give verbal feedback, teach pronunciation, or create listening exercises - Audio, Helps learners focus on sound, tone, and rhythm. (e.g., podcasts, language lessons, or voice-over explanations) 
• Present structured notes, summarize key points, or allow review - Interactive Slides, (e.g., PowerPoint, Google Slides). Helps organize information and keep the lesson structured. (e.g., showing images, key points, or interactive questions)