The Impact of Multimedia Course Enhancements on Student Learning Outcomes

Abstract

An online course was redesigned to use multimedia applications to improve student learning and promote meaningful engagement among classmates and course activities and materials. Consumer Health Informatics (CHI) is a masters-level course that examines Internet-based and telehealth models for delivering health information to consumers. When first offered in 2007, the delivery format was primarily textual. Following the course redesign in 2008, the course materials, including weekly topical discussion forums, projects, and course evaluations, were compared. Qualitative content analyses and statistical comparison of quantitative data demonstrated significant improvements in the level of students' engagement in course materials and with peers. Students' attitudes and perceptions recorded in course evaluations also showed significant changes.