Cognitive effects of multimedia in computer-based training

Due to the character of the original source materials and the nature of batch digitization, quality control issues may be present in this document. Please report any quality issues you encounter to digital@library.tamu.edu, referencing the URI of the item.Includes bibliographical references.Distributed client-server architectures on desktop workstations are rapidly replacing centralized mainframes in the current business model for enterprise computing. The resulting process of "rightsizing" is forcing companies to re-evaluate traditional methods of re-training their workforce. Companies are looking for ways to ensure that employees have the required knowledge and learning skills necessary to transition quickly from one corporate-strategy to another. Traditional training in the enterprise is costly, and is often greatly affected by demographic barriers, such as cultural and language differences. These issues are difficult to deal with using traditional training methods. Educators in all disciplines are fascinated by the potential impact interactive multimedia may have on bridging cultural diversity and providing global perspectives. This study provides an in-depth evaluation of interactive multimedia for CBT in the business environment. The study involves testing and quantification of usability of the software and interfaces, short-temi knowledge acquisition and long-term knowledge retention. A distance learning tool is used as the training instrument. The tool is an interactive multimedia CBT product that makes use of color images, audio, and animation sequences. The courseware tasks are focused on knowledge required to administer a Solaris (SVR4) operating system running on a Sun SPARCstation