Multimedia delivery of computer programming subjects: basing structure on instructional design

Abstract

This paper describes the conversion of introductory conqmrer programming subjects to multimedia formar on CD-ROM. Mainly nurture age distance education students will be using rl?eproduct. The application was structured by an inssnicnonal design strategy which combined multimedia and adult learning rheon-es with Gagne’s Events of Instruction [3]. Each programw-ng topic is presented as a problem. As students are guided through the problem-solving process, dzey use a range of multimedia interactions, including a simulation, 10 construct a personal view of rhe topic. Exercises, with and without guidance, can then be atrernpted in the programming environment. Finally real-world applications of the concepts arepresented. The paper proposes that the behaviour of a multimedia in.structionid program is not ideally determined by navigational or purely content related concerns. If the structure of the product is determined by an instructional design strategy that complements the content, the learning opportunities provided by multimedia interactivity can be nuzdmised.