1. Multimedia learning about physical systems
Learning How People Understand:
Diagrams
Animations
Multimedia presentations
Welcome to MULTIMEDIA LEARNING ABOUT PHYSICAL SYSTEMS
In this lesson you will learn how people understand
Diagrams
Animations
MultiMedia Presentations

2. Defining a Physical System
Made up of physical, visible subsystems that interact to accomplish some function
Man-made mechanical systems
Biological Systems
Organs
Organisms
First lets define a Physical System
Physical systems are made up of visible subsystems that interact to accomplish some function.
They can be man made systems such as machines
Biological systems
Organs or
Organisms

3. Understanding a Physical System
Involves:
Knowledge of the parts of the system
What the parts of made of
How the parts are connected
Configuration of the system/machine
Includes
Knowledge of how components move and interact (behavior)
Knowledge of causal chain or chains of events in behavior.
Mental model of system/machine
Involves
Understanding of the function of the system/machine.
Understanding physical systems
Involves
knowledge of the parts that make up a system
Includes
knowledge of how those parts interact
understanding the purpose and/or function of the system

4. Section One: Theoretical Framework for Cognitive Processes
Goal - create a mental model (internal representation)
Goal for understanding a system is to create a mental model or internal representation

5. Section Two: Types of External Representations
Used to represent physical systems in multimedia presentations:
Diagrams
Static
Animated
Verbal Materials
Visual Texts
Aural commentary
Relations between Diagrams and Verbal Instruction
Redundant
Complimentary
To create a mental model, we must understand the types of External Representations
Such as
Diagrams – both static and animated
Verbal materials such as text and aural commentary
Relationships between diagrams and verbal instructions

6. Static Diagram
A Static diagram is simply an image and/or text on a page

7. Animated Diagram
The Chain Oiler works on the basic principle of friction.
The Drive Chain rides thru a Magnetic Guide and creates friction, or drag.
The Magnetic Guide rests against a Normally Closed pneumatic Ball Valve
The drag of the chain forces the guide downstream until it over comes the air pressure in the Ball Valve
When the air pressure in the Ball Valve is over come, it opens and releases air pressure to the Oil Reservoir which then sprays oil onto the chain.
CHAIN DIRECTION
MAGNETIC GUIDE
This slide incorporates all the best of Multimedia
Verbal and Aural Text,
A static diagram that morphs to animation.
OVERSPRAY
CUP
OIL
RESERVOIR

8. Visual Text
There are numerous drawing sets that contain diagrams of the entire system from the
mechanical portions of the system to the electrical system.
They are based on the configuration of the controls, the equipment, and the operations used
with the system.
The basic diagrams for electrical systems within control panels include:
Power Distribution AC Motors
120 VDC Power Distribution
Emergency Stop Circuits
24 VDC Power Distribution Electric Accumulation
24 VDC Control Circuits
24 VDC Inputs
24 VDC Outputs
Panel and Cabinet Layouts
PC Cabinet Layouts
Push Button Stations
The Verbal presentation may be text on a page, or a voice providing the text

9. Diagram with RedundantVerbal Instructions
Redundant Verbal Instructions result when the text on the page is simply repeated by the voice
“ The Upper Four LED’s signal the four operating conditions”
The upper four LED´s signal the four operating conditions.

10. Diagram with Complimentary Verbal Instructions
In contrast, Complimentary Verbal Instructions add new or additional information
Here the image is accompanied by this voice over:
“In order to align the Transfer Belts, loosen the locking nuts on the Alignment Rods.”

11. Section Three: Understanding Physical Systems from Diagrams Alone
Static
Schematic Diagrams
3D Diagrams
Dynamic Events (Animations)
Animated
Understanding Structure
Dynamic Events
Why not effective?
Transient
Visual attention limits
Passive process
MisMatch between format of animation and format of mental model
In some instances it is important for the learner to understand Physical Systems from stand-alone diagrams
Animated, dynamic events are not always effective. This could be because of their transient “here, then gone” nature, or the visual attention limits of the learner. It may be caused by a mis-match between the format of the animation and the mental formatting of the internal understanding.

12. Here is static diagram that could use additional information to be better understood.

13. Mechanical sensors operate at approx. 50% throughput
“True” Singulation modules also operate at approx. 50%
Singulation modules operate at approx. 66% throughput
Here the animation is ineffective because it does not really connect to the text.

14. Understanding Physical Systems from Multimedia Presentations
Section Four:
Understanding Physical Systems from Multimedia Presentations
Involves:
Verbal information used in conjunction with static and animated diagrams in order to construct mental models
Relations Between Diagrams and Verbal Instruction
Content:
Dual code more effective
Verbal can direct processing
Commentary can provide more/better information
Finally, learners can understand physical systems from multimedia presentations.
These include verbal information used together with static and animated diagrams.
This combination has shown to be most effective for helping to construct effective mental models.
The “Dual Code” states that two codes are more memorable than a single code.
In addition, verbal instructions can help direct the processing of diagrams.
Finally, text or commentary can provide information not easily communicated in static or animated diagrams.

15. For example, this display of a custom software user interface screen is better understood with the following commentary:
“The computer screen shown uses the standard Windows software conventions for navigation. The screen is divided into quadrants which provide the user 4 times the amount of useful information at a glance.”

16. Multimedia learning about physical systems
Learning How People Understand:
Diagrams
Animations
Multimedia presentations
In this lesson you will learn how people understand
Diagrams
Animations
MultiMedia Presentations