ADVANTAGES OF SYSTEMS APPROACH

i. Systems approach helps to identify the suitability of the resource material to achieve the specific
goal.
ii. Technological advance could be used to provide integration of machines, media and people for
attaining the defined goal.
iii. It helps to assess the resource needs, their sources and facilities in relation to quantities, time and
other factors.
iv. It permits an orderly introduction of components demonstrated to be required for systems success
in terms of student learning.
v. It avoids rigidity in plan of action as continuous evaluation affords desired beneficial changes to be
made.
LIMITATIONS OF SYSTEMS APPROACH

i. Resistance to change. Old ways are difficult to erase. There is always resistance to any new
method or approach.

ii. Involves hard work. Systems approach requires hard and continuous work on the part of
school personnel. Some are not prepared for the extra load.

iii. Lack of understanding. Teachers and administrators are still not familiar with systems
approach. Though it has been successfully implemented in the industry, it has still to make
headway in education.
 MULTI-SENSORY LEARNING

The idea that learning experienced through all the senses is helpful in reinforcing memory has a long history in
pedagogy. From the earliest teaching guides (Montessori 1912), educators have embraced a range of multi-
sensory techniques in order to make learning richer and more motivating for learners. The term is used to refer to
any learning activity that combines two or more sensory strategies to take in or express information.
Multisensory approaches have been particularly valuable in literacy and language learning. The Department for
Education and Skills (DES, 2004) defines multi-sensory as: ‘using visual, auditory and kinaesthetic modalities,
sometimes at the same time’.

Kinaesthetic refers to perceiving through touch and an awareness of body movements. Teachers working with
dyslexic learners have found multi-sensory approaches particularly valuable, as they help learners to make sense
of information in a range of ways.
What is a multisensory approach?

A multisensory approach, "also known as VAKT (visual-auditory-kinesthetic-tactile)

implies that students learn best when information is presented in different modalities (Mercer
& Mercer, 1993). The belief is that students learn a new concept best when it is taught using the
four modalities. A multisensory approach is one that integrates sensory activities. The students
see, hear, and touch. "Activities such as tracing, hearing, writing, and seeing represent the four
modalities". This gives multiple pathways for the information to reach the brain. It is diagnostic
as it involves constant testing and reflection on the knowledge of the student.
Multisensory teaching is effective for all students. In general, it means presenting all information to
students via three sensory modalities: visual, auditory, and tactile. Visual presentation techniques include
graphic organizers for structuring writing and pictures for reinforcing instruction; auditory presentation
techniques include conducting thorough discussions and reading aloud; tactile presentation techniques
include manipulating blocks and creating paragraphs about objects students can hold in their hands.

Multimedia provides a complex multi-sensory experience in exploring our world through the presentation
of information through text, graphics, images, audio and video, and there is evidence to suggest that a
mixture of words and pictures increases the likelihood that people can integrate a large amount of
information (Mayer, 2001).
 Multisensory techniques are frequently used for children with learning differences. Multisensory teaching
techniques and strategies stimulate learning by engaging students on multiple levels. They encourage
students to use some or all their senses to:
• Gather information about a task
• Link information to ideas they already know and understand
• Perceive the logic involved in solving problems
• Learn problem solving tasks
• Tap into nonverbal reasoning skills
• Understand relationships between concepts
• Store information and store it for later recall
 Using a multisensory teaching technique means helping a child to
learn through more than one sense. Most teaching techniques are done
using either sight or hearing (visual or auditory). The child’s sight is used in
reading information, looking at text, pictures or reading information based
from the board. The hearing sense is used to listen to what the teacher says.
 Multimedia Approach
What is Multimedia?

Multimedia is one of the important innovations in the field of educational technology to

improve the process and product of teaching – learning. The multimedia approach consisting of the
use of many appropriate and carefully selected devices, techniques and media in such a combination
as to yield in the most effective realization of the teaching- learning objectives in a best possible way .
In other words, multimedia is the combination of various digital media, into an integrated multi-
sensory interactive application or presentation to convey information to an audience.
Multimedia approach

The term multimedia approach to teaching – learning may be referred to the use of appropriate and
carefully selected varieties of learning experiences which when presented to the learner through selected
teaching strategies will reinforce and strengthen one another in such a way that the learner will achieve
predetermined objectives in an effective way. Multimedia approach to teaching – learning can be classified in
different ways. These media are so selected and planned as to yield in best possible results in a most appropriate
economical combination. Multimedia helps students to construct knowledge actively, work in group and use
multi-senses at a time. Multimedia is very effective and advanced approach in higher education.
Media - Techniques /methods.
Multimedia approach uses a number of media, devices, techniques, in the teaching learning process.
Multimedia approach has come out of researches and experiments in educational technology that have
been undertaken in order to improve the process of teaching learning.
Multimedia approach aims at providing meaningful learning experiences via a mix of media in order to
achieve predetermined objectives.
The choice of the media has to be done carefully so that one does not hamper or reduce the effect of the
other i.e. each media must complement the after.
The media have to used sequentially and judiciously. Only necessary ones are to be used. Then it would be
possible to make optimum use of them in a most economical manner. In multimedia approach, several media
and techniques are used as powerful means of communication.
Characteristics of Multimedia
Multimedia calls for the use of a number of media, devices and techniques for teaching- learning.
Multimedia approach is the contribution and net result of the researches and experiments going on in the
subject of education technology for improving the process and products of the act of teaching- learning.
The variety of media are carefully selected as to prove quite effective in providing learning experiences to the
learners foe achieving the pre-determined teaching- learning objectives.
These media are so selected and planned as to yield in best possible results in a most appropriate, economical
combination.
While selecting different media for adopting multimedia approach it is cared that the presence of one must
increase the effect of others.
Multimedia approach asks for the judicious and planned use of the hardware and software available in the
field of educational technology.
In multimedia approach the several media and techniques can be effectively used as appropriate vehicles for
the needed communication of ideas in the process of teaching-learning.
Interactive Multimedia Components
Interactive multimedia is a tool which has had a great impact in the field of education. This tool uses
five elements and combines them into a single powerful tools.
The five media are
i) Text
ii) Animation
iii) Video
iv) Graphics
v) Sound.
Role of teacher in Multimedia approach
The teacher has to make a lot of modifications and adjustment if he has to adopt multimedia approach. His
role would have a different connotation compared to the traditional role. He would have to make these changes.
i) The teacher has to adopt a number of methods and techniques; he cannot be satisfied with the lecture or the
chalk talk method.
ii) The teacher has to be aware of the different available media and their availability the teacher should be
physically competent to use and demonstrate the use of different media.
iii) The teacher should be skilful enough to make a judicious choice of media and be competent enough to mix them
sequentially and in an orderly manner.
iv) The teacher’s role is that of a facilitator or manager of activities. He has to lead his students for independent,
individualized learning.
v) The teacher should provide experience such that the students can link practice and theory & integrate them.
vi) The teacher has to make learning a living and co-operative process by giving group activities like seminar,
symposium, workshops and interacting with the people in real work situation.
vii) The lecturer has to play a very constructive role in making his students learn the things in a quite practical
way by giving through concrete and living experiences.

Educational Implications of Multimedia/Advantages of Multimedia Approach

Multimedia enables students to represent information using several different media. Hypermedia links
allow students to organize information in meaningful ways.
Multimedia can take into account different learning styles. Some students learn by interpreting text,
while others require more graphical or aural representations.
Multimedia allows for self-pacing and discovery, students can take the time they need and choose the
path of learning making learning meaningful and pleasurable.
 Multimedia can develop a positive attitude among the learners towards the teaching-learning process.
Technique of simulation can be effectively applied through the multimedia approach.
Multimedia helps in development of higher order thinking skills. Interactive multimedia encourages
student.
Multimedia provided the students the flexibility of anywhere, ‘any time’ learning.
Multimedia helps in developing group and interpersonal skills. Better communication between students
via e-mail, chat sessions etc., can encourage collaborative learning and enhance student-teacher interaction.
Multimedia helps students to learn the content in a given discipline. It helps students to think
effectively, practice problem solving and decision making.
Multimedia approach can bridge language barriers since audio is not the only means of
communication.