Addressing Point of Need in Interactive Multimedia Instruction: A Conceptual Review and Evaluation.

摘要

The Army Learning Model (ALM) emphasizes a learner-centric approach to education and training and application of digital technologies to address learners' points of need. The point of need concept is focused both on the accessibility of information to support the learning process as well as designing learning materials to address individual differences in learners' experiences, background knowledge, and job-specific requirements. In this research we focused on determining how to apply instructional design techniques and tailored training strategies to address different learners' needs in the context of interactive multimedia instruction (IMI). This was accomplished on the basis of an extensive review of existing Army IMI to determine the relevance of various instructional designs and tailored training strategies to address point of need. Starting with a sample of N = 427 IMI modules, we reduced the sample (N = 179 modules) by focusing only on IMI relevant to Combat Arms/Maneuver, Fires, and Effects and Squad/Team Leaders. Findings indicated that much of existing Army IMI was designed to be applicable to the largest possible audience rather than address individual learners' needs. Here, we recommend principles and strategies that may be incorporated into the design of IMI to better address individual learners' needs.