How do you balance the use of different modes and media in multimodal training to avoid cognitive overload?

1 Know your audience

Before you choose the modes and media for your training, you need to know your audience's preferences, needs, and characteristics. For example, do they have different learning styles, prior knowledge, or motivation levels? Do they have access to the devices and platforms that support the media you want to use? Do they have any disabilities or limitations that require accommodations? Conduct a training needs analysis to identify your audience's profile and expectations, and tailor your multimodal training accordingly.

2 Align with your objectives

The modes and media you use should align with the learning objectives and outcomes of your training. For example, if you want to teach a skill or a procedure, you might use a video demonstration or a simulation. If you want to convey a concept or a principle, you might use a text explanation or an infographic. If you want to assess the learners' understanding or performance, you might use a quiz or a project. Choose the modes and media that best suit the content and the purpose of your training.

3 Use the multimedia principles

The multimedia principles are a set of guidelines based on cognitive science research that can optimize learning and reduce cognitive load. Incorporating the use of words and pictures instead of words alone, narration and animation rather than on-screen text and animation, and excluding irrelevant or distracting elements are key principles to consider. Additionally, highlighting important features or organization of the content, breaking the content into manageable chunks, providing an overview or summary of main concepts or terms, and using conversational or informal language and voice can create an engaging learning experience that enhances the learners' attention, comprehension, and retention.

4 Evaluate and revise

Finally, you need to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of your multimodal training and revise it based on the feedback and data you collect. You can use various methods to measure the learners' satisfaction, engagement, learning outcomes, and behavior change, such as surveys, interviews, tests, observations, or analytics. You can also test different versions of your multimodal training to compare the results and identify the best practices. Use the evaluation and revision process to improve your multimodal training and ensure it meets the learners' needs and goals.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?