I’ve been having an ongoing discussion with colleagues about the use of multimedia in the learning experience. I am a big proponent of the use of visuals and multimedia within the learning experience, as I feel it helps to augment the understanding. I am always looking for new ways to communicate visually.

However, playing Devil’s advocate: Just last night I had a continuation of this household’s ongoing discussion–the topic of homework– which I have been having for years now, with my daughter Xernay [who just turned 16].  I always argue how much easier it is to be a high schooler these days–writing and doing research & homework–because of the internet and access to all the information, visuals, and multimedia out there.  Then I go into the long blah, blah, about how I had to write out notes, use actual books [gasp], go to the public library, type on a typewriter [with an eraser]…….you get my gist.

And The Girl [one of her many nicknames] is in her bedroom, laying on the floor, peering into her open MacBook, video chatting with some dude named Jack, and they are in this full-blown discussion about Algebra 2 problems. Yeah, it’s true, they really were discussing Algebra 2, ‘cause The Girl’s bedroom is right off the kitchen and I was making dinner while eavesdropping and thinking about how when I was her age, I only dreamt about having the ability to video chat and being able to see and talk to Dr. Spock or Captain Kirk……..Oh, I mean do my homework with my friends.  My friends, who in order for me to ask Algebra 2 homework questions to; I had to run out the door [heavy Algebra 2 book in tow], dash down the street, knock on their door, politely say hello to their mom [sometimes their dad too], go upstairs, lay on their bedroom floor, spread out all the equation papers and THEN discuss the math.

But you get the picture….humm no, wait a minute, that was all done with text…26 letters….no images, no pictures, no multimedia…….

Next saga: Do high schoolers, these days, have more distractions, due to multimedia and information overload in general?

Because I can guess, I don’t even have to click on Information is Beautiful’s image showing who really spends the most on their military to actually know.  However, being an Edward Tufte devotee, I always fall for the multimedia– visual portion of the learning experience and the Information is Beautiful is a site is one I’ll return to often.  You should too, you might learn somethings like:

• Whose given what to the Haitians after the earthquake.
• When I want to know what online content China is censoring these days.
• Deciding if the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine is safe?
• Knowing my rights, as a photographer, in the UK.

Then again, if you are sorting out your wealth, check out Your Wealth Puzzle, for details on your Credit Report.

When creating instructional design, information can be beautiful….given the proper alignment of visuals.  And being the Visual Whore that I am…..I’m off to find a visual to represent this post.