Chapter 6

Hypermedia and multimedia tools have become increasingly important in education. This chapter really focuses on all of the different types of hypermedia systems and how they can impact education. I found it very interesting how closely linked multimedia and hypermedia are today. Basically, any type of hypermedia (including links) is also multimedia (including different types media). They have become to integrated now, that it is difficult to imagine them not being linked. This connection between multimedia and hypermedia has expanded the amount of information and opportunities that these types of systems offer, especially for education.
Commercial hypermedia software packages use hypermedia to add energy and life to instructional software. Interactive books can expand students' motivation and reach out to students in new and different ways. Using hypermedia in reference materials like encyclopedias, almanacs, and atlases, enhances these things in huge ways.
"People with fairly nontechnical skill levels now can develop their own complex, professional-looking hypermedia products." This type of hypermedia authoring is so important to education today. Due to the ease at which hypermedia can be created, teachers as well as students are capable of using and creating hypermedia products. The availability of audio, video, photographs, graphic images, and different types of text makes it so easy for teachers and students to compile these things together and author their own type of hypermedia. I think that having students create their own hypermedia projects is a wonderful idea and a great way to foster intellectual advances; however, I also think that is important for students to do on-paper planning for their projects. I do not think it is a good idea for all of the planning, strategizing, and brainstorming to be done through the computer. If teachers make students write down their steps or the way they are going to create the project the students may be more organized and structured when they finally do dive into creating the hypermedia project. I also think that it is very important for students' work to be displayed in some way to the rest of the class or to others. If students know that their work will be displayed, they will hopefully work harder to create something that is worth showing off. I also liked how the text suggested that students do self-assessments of their hypermedia projects. By doing this, students will be able to see how well they have done, and what they could have done to meet all the criteria. If students learn to do self assessments, they should be more likely in the future to analyze their own work and try to enhance it even when not required.
Four types of multimedia authoring tools were described in the chapter. I thought that they all had a lot to offer and there were very interesting ways to integrate them into the classroom. Presentation software is a create way for teachers and students to present information. I thought that having students use presentation software to present book reports was a great idea. I also think it is important that students learn how to best use presentation software as an aide for a presentation. The student or teacher must have good communication skills and be able to use the project or tool in a way that benefits everyone. If the presenter just reads off of a PowerPoint, the software's effectiveness is not being fully used. Another type of multimedia authoring tools was video production and editing systems. I loved how the text said that teachers or students could record themselves creating experiments or doing steps for a procedure. Also, I liked the idea of putting together a news show or the morning announcements. The text also describes the idea of virtual reality. This is great for virtual field trips for all students. Also, it offers a new way to reach out to children with special needs.
Basically, I think that allowing students to engage in hypermedia systems will increase motivation, processing skills, and creativity. Since hypermedia systems are so interactive and offer such a variety of different modes to receive information, these systems offer something for people who have different learning styles. I think that it is so wonderful that recently students have not just interacted with hypermedia systems but they have been allowed to create their own. With effective teachers and the right resources, students can greatly benefit from creating their own hypermedia systems.