4.0 Build Small Learning Objects
Build your audio-enhanced multimedia
learning materials in short clips (several minutes)
to avoid maximizing the extraneous cognitive
load and to provide the learner a rest from the
materials. This design consideration is also a
recommendation from our literature base on
learning object theory and practice (Boyle,
2003; Ritzhaupt, 2010) in which you build
smaller learning objects that are loosely coupled
and highly cohesive for all types of material
(compressed or not). An unresolved issue is how
long learners can observe a time-compressed
multimedia message before their cognitive load is
maximized. Both Ritzhaupt and colleagues (2008,
2011) as well as Pastore (2010, 2012) provided
breaks in between sections of learning materials
to reduce the cognitive load of the treatment. The
research base does not currently have a threshold
that tells us how long a learner can observe a
time-compressed multimedia message.