While many students have eReaders which have similar functions, this software can also be used on handouts and printed excerpts supplied by the teacher. The ability to download it as an app makes it very accessible. The documents it creates are essentially a high school level interactive storybook, and “various studies have reported positive impact of interactive storybooks on children’s enjoyment of reading and development of reading skills” (Roblyer & Doering, 2013, p. 175). This product can make reading more enjoyable and more accessible to a variety of different learners. For example, it could be used in the classroom for students with learning disabilities, auditory learning styles, or simply for ease of use.
Another type of multimedia authoring that can be used in the classroom is video production. Not only can teachers produce videos for students to watch and learn, but students “often create videos that illustrate real-life examples of concepts they have learned” (Roblyer & Doering, 2013, p. 190). These videos can be taken on students' phones and iPads and edited with programs such as iMovie.
In an English classroom, these videos are often used as a way of creatively summarizing or re-interpreting readings covered in the classroom. This kind of project can increase students’ drive and enjoyment of a project. As Roblyer and Doering (2013) note: “Students who struggle to complete a project or term paper often will tackle a hypermedia project enthusiastically” (p. 176). The increased enjoyment also allows students to use more creative thinking, rather than creating “projects resembling glorified paper-based projects, essentially replication of existing materials (Roblyer & Doering, 2013, p. 185). Instead, they can make something interesting, amusing, or even innovative. The following video is an example of students illustrating material from a unit on Greek mythology. (As a note, from my work with high school students, I can confirm that this is a 100% accurate representation of the kind of media they tend to produce.)
This is only one use for video production hypermedia in the classroom, but it is one that students seem to particularly enjoy.
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References:
ABBYY, A.A. (2015). ABBYY FineReader Professional (Version 12) [Computer Software]. Retrieved February 11, 2015, from: http://finereader.abbyy.com/professional/full_feature_list/
Doering, A. H.. & Roblyer, M.D. (2013) Integrating educational technology into teaching. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
