Interactive Media
How Can Using Interactive Media Improve Teaching and Learning?
Using interactive media in online courses can benefit learners by increasing engagement, promoting active learning, providing more personalized learning experiences, facilitating collaboration, and providing learners with immediate feedback. Interactive content can also be used to design simulations, or scenarios that replicate real-life situations, allowing learners to gain practical experience and build confidence.
When interactive media is intentionally used it can:
- Create an aesthetic appeal which can activate affective dimensions of learning
- Attract students' attention and sustain engagement
- Appeal to diverse learners and learning preferences
- Enhance and compliment written material
- Explain complex concepts or summaries of data more quickly and effectively
- Help students develop or refine visual and digital literacy skills
You can transform a passive asynchronous activity such as watching a video into an active learning experience by adding interactions. These interactions can be guiding questions, comments, prompts or embedded quizzes within the videos to increase student engagement and instructor presence. This replicates the interactions that often occur when watching videos in face-to-face classroom sessions.
Watch the examples in the EdMedia spotlight column. We have used H5P which is an open source tool.
Key Considerations: Interactive Media
Click on the "+" sign to read more
When Using Interactive Media
- Be consistent and cohesive with your animations/simulations (in terms of font, colour, shape, positioning and size).
- Include clear instructions and provide a replay button for animated simulations.
Strategies and Tips For Using Interactive Media in your Courses
- If you are doing a narrated presentation, use graphics or text, but not both. (Mayer, R. E. (2009). Multimedia learning (2nd ed.). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.)
- Consider adding music and sound effects to your animations as it can add life and bring everything together.
- Include only when it is needed.
- Select different types of interactions. Check our H5P page to explore the varaiations.
Tool Options
SFU Supported Tools
- Powerpoint
- H5P
- Adobe Software (Animate, Character Animator, After Effects)
Third Party Tools
- Tumult Hype Create HTML5 keyframe-based animations and interactive web content (macOS only)
- Vyond Cloud-based video animation software
Copyright
When you use media created by others, please note that it is likely protected by copyright. You may be able to use it if it falls under fair dealing or an educational exception (see the Copyright for instructors at SFU). In cases where copying is not covered by fair dealing or an educational exception or where the terms of use explicitly prohibit the copying, you will have to obtain permission to copy material. You can contact the SFU Copyright Office for assistance.
It’s important to attribute the creators correctly. It models a fundamental part of digital literacy for students when work is cited and information such the creator’s name, links to source material and copyright licence are included. BCcampus’s Self-publishing Guide provides examples and recommendations on Embedding and Linking different types of media.
Accessibility and Inclusion
Accessibility and inclusion initiatives are sometimes misunderstood as special accommodations only benefitting historically marginalized students, such as; persons with hearing, visual, physical or cognitive challenges or disabilities, gender non-conforming or persons from racial, ethnic or cultural minority groups. Just as the use of closed captions benefits all students, not just those who are deaf or hard of hearing, addressing accessibility and inclusion from the onset of course design is the best way to be responsive to the needs of all learners. These initiatives can ensure equal opportunities for successful learning.
Sources for Interactive Media
- Explore the H5P Open Educational Resources site H5P OER Hub (once ready) or the eCampusOntario H5P Studio and LibreTexts Studio.
- Share and embed 3D models online with Sketchfab.
- The Smithsonian Learning Lab is a free interactive platform of authentic digital resources
- https://www.wikimedia.org/ is a great source for images that do not infringe on copyright. Just be sure to cite them.
- Creative commons website: https://creativecommons.org/. This is where you go to find out all about how to use creative commons, how to cite these images, and how to create your own!
Using a storyboard to create your interactive media? Check out the following free online or printable PDF storyboard templates:
Copyright free music and sound effects resources:
- Free Music Archive FAQCCMixter (Creative Commons – attribution)
- Epidemic
- Buffer
- Beatpick
- Soundcloud
- Free Sound (requires registration/login to be created, includes music and sound effects)
- Sound Bible (includes music and sound effects)
Where Can I Learn More?
- Teaching with Media workshop series
- Creating An Accessible and Copyright Compliant Course
- SFU Library Maker Commons
- LinkedIn Learning (free for SFU students, faculty and staff, formerly known as Lynda.com)
EdMedia Spotlight
JAPN 101
Animation-based learning videos can also be used to tell stories. Click on the image above to see one of 36 animated conversation videos created to support Japanese teachers and language learners at Canadian universities.
An H5P-based drag-and-drop activity is included as a comprehension check mid-way through (2:54) the above video. Click on the video above to view the interaction.
CRIM 230
The above animation, created for a CRIM 230 OL course, uses H5P interactive elements to show students how to cite legal cases and legislation using the Legal APA format. Click on the image above to view the animation.
Creative Commons License
