Integrating multimedia content with learning management systems : a case of Strathmore University
Abstract
In Kenya more and more institutions of higher learning and organizations are deploying eLearning management systems in a bid to tap into their associative benefits. However,these institutions are still not reaping the full benefits of these management systems. The attainment of these full benefits greatly relies upon the usability and the interactivity of the content provided.Research shows that a majority of learning management system users do not find existing content interactive enough since only text media is used. Multimedia content which incorporates different modes of delivery including text, videos, animations and sound enriches the learning experiences of students by catering for their varying instructional preferences. The research had its main objective as finding authoring technology that could be used to design multimedia content that addresses the mitigating factors against multimedia adoption in institutions of higher learning in Kenya. To achieve this objective, the research analyzed multimedia authoring systems deployed in several institutions of higher learning. Other objectives were to identify mitigating factors against multimedia adoption in institutions of higher learning in Kenya, to determine learning style preference distribution among undergraduate students and to test the integration of this technology with existing eLearning platforms.An exploratory research design was used in this study and in particular a cross sectional study was conducted.BB flash back authoring tool; a screen casting software was found to be most suitable to use for institutions of higher learning in Kenya. This is because of the numerous strengths that it poses such as; Multimedia files produced are relatively small and are viewable on most web browsers and platforms and the fact that screen recordings can be integrated with learning management systems.
Description
A thesis submitted to Strathmore University in partial fulfillment to the requirements of the award of Master of Science in Information Technology(MSIT)
In Kenya more and more institutions of higher learning and organizations are deploying eLearning management systems in a bid to tap into their associative benefits. However,these institutions are still not reaping the full benefits of these management systems. The attainment of these full benefits greatly relies upon the usability and the interactivity of the content provided.Research shows that a majority of learning management system users do not find existing content interactive enough since only text media is used. Multimedia content which incorporates different modes of delivery including text, videos, animations and sound enriches the learning experiences of students by catering for their varying instructional preferences. The research had its main objective as finding authoring technology that could be used to design multimedia content that addresses the mitigating factors against multimedia adoption in institutions of higher learning in Kenya. To achieve this objective, the research analyzed multimedia authoring systems deployed in several institutions of higher learning. Other objectives were to identify mitigating factors against multimedia adoption in institutions of higher learning in Kenya, to determine learning style preference distribution among undergraduate students and to test the integration of this technology with existing eLearning platforms.An exploratory research design was used in this study and in particular a cross sectional study was conducted.BB flash back authoring tool; a screen casting software was found to be most suitable to use for institutions of higher learning in Kenya. This is because of the numerous strengths that it poses such as; Multimedia files produced are relatively small and are viewable on most web browsers and platforms and the fact that screen recordings can be integrated with learning management systems.
In Kenya more and more institutions of higher learning and organizations are deploying eLearning management systems in a bid to tap into their associative benefits. However,these institutions are still not reaping the full benefits of these management systems. The attainment of these full benefits greatly relies upon the usability and the interactivity of the content provided.Research shows that a majority of learning management system users do not find existing content interactive enough since only text media is used. Multimedia content which incorporates different modes of delivery including text, videos, animations and sound enriches the learning experiences of students by catering for their varying instructional preferences. The research had its main objective as finding authoring technology that could be used to design multimedia content that addresses the mitigating factors against multimedia adoption in institutions of higher learning in Kenya. To achieve this objective, the research analyzed multimedia authoring systems deployed in several institutions of higher learning. Other objectives were to identify mitigating factors against multimedia adoption in institutions of higher learning in Kenya, to determine learning style preference distribution among undergraduate students and to test the integration of this technology with existing eLearning platforms.An exploratory research design was used in this study and in particular a cross sectional study was conducted.BB flash back authoring tool; a screen casting software was found to be most suitable to use for institutions of higher learning in Kenya. This is because of the numerous strengths that it poses such as; Multimedia files produced are relatively small and are viewable on most web browsers and platforms and the fact that screen recordings can be integrated with learning management systems.
Keywords
E-learning--Kenya, Learning Management Systems, Multimedia e-Learning content