Evaluation and effectiveness of multimedia educational software

One of the most rapidly changing and exciting areas of education in the world today is the development of computer-based teaching materials, especially interactive multimedia programs that run on personal computers. These new technologies offer students and teachers access to materials as never before. Through the condensed storage capabilities of computers, mutlimedia can deliver large amounts of information in ways that make it manageable, approachable, and useful. And by making it possible to access illustrations and photographs, sound and video, as well as large amounts of text, interactive multimedia programs present learning information to teachers, and students, in newly engaging and meaningful ways.. This study explains how interactive multimedia can be an effective and powerful tool in education. The study also discusses a variety of ways that multimedia can be incorporated into teaching settings, as well as the technical and practical aspects of getting started with interactive multimedia. The study then continues to evaluate the different perception and performance of students by different learning methodologies and how these materials can be designed such that they reflect and support the ways in which students think and operate in learning situation and also to increase usability, enjoyment and understanding. Suggestions are able to contribute guidelines and examples of improved educational practice that will benefit both students and producers of these materials.