For this blog post, I will discuss the importance of these learning principles in both settings, classroom and face-to-face business meetings. In reading the prompt, I feel that it’s important to draw a distinction on how learning principles can be applicable in many different settings, as well as the benefits they provide in multimedia learning.

After completing the readings and additional research, I would like to discuss how crucial the Coherence Principle is within presentations. Across all settings, people learn better when extraneous information is excluded from presentations. In the classroom setting, teachers should only focus on material that is important. This could be done by only utilizing graphics, text, and no background music in presentations, which has shown to help students reach learning objectives much faster. As for the business setting, using simple visuals may help convey the intended message much easier to employees. During my three co-op terms, I’ve noticed this principle in practice, using simple visuals and limiting unwanted distractions helped get information across much more easily. In the business setting, its especially important to make the intended message clear as individuals can become easily confused with clutter in presentations. For example, I have sat through presentations where it was practically impossible to retain the intended message because of the overwhelming amount of useless information on each slide. I believe this principle must be considered in the creation of presentations in any setting.

Similarly, the next principle that I believe would apply to presentations is the Spatial Contiguity Principle. I feel that this principle should always be considered when creating presentations for the learners in the classroom.  During my time in school, I always found my focus was greater when word and pictures were placed close together. I have sat through presentations where the words and corresponding image were so far from each other. By the time you reach the image, the meaning has been lost. By putting them relatively close to each other in presentation will increase the chances of memory retention. I also believe the principle is crucial to follow in the business environment. Far too often, during work meetings, I notice the following in presentations: “This idea will be presented in a few slides”. With that considered, PowerPoints can follow this principle a few ways. Firstly, placing text in close proximity to the graphics it refers to in presentations. Another way would be to present instructions on the same screen as an activity. The overall goal of this principle would be limiting the cognitive stretch in connecting ideas together. With that being said, this must be kept in mind when making any type of presentation. After some consideration, making the audience hold onto a thought is fundamentally incorrect way of retaining information. 

Of course, there are many principles that improve the overall delivery of learning through presentations. From my perspective, the two mentioned above are the most important to apply in presentations to ensure complete understanding by the audience.

Please see below my attempt at screen-casting last weeks brochure on Avocados!