The Effects of Multimedia Learning Materials Quality on Knowledge Acquisition

Different learning environments offer l earners various kinds of multimedia learning materials (MLMs). Although the usage of multimedia has proven to foster meaningful learning, a multimedia resource will not necessarily contribute to the teaching-learning process unless proper attention is paid to its quality. This paper explores issues regarding the assessment of multimedia learning materials (MLMs) quality as well as the relationship between MLM quality and knowledge acquisition. We present a research experiment that involves low-quality and high-quality MLMs implemented in the learning management system (LMS) Moodle of a polytechnic school course. The quality of MLMs was evaluated by means of the LORI assessment tool adapted for the purpose of this research. The analysis of research data shows that MLMs developed according to the principles of multimedia learning and principles for reducing cognitive load were perceived as being of higher quality than those not developed using multimedia principles. Furthermore, students’ usage of high-quality MLMs during treatment resulted in better knowledge acquisition indicated by significantly higher scores in knowledge assessment