Interactive learning made accessible through multimedia technology has proven to help learners improve their ability to learn the related subject material [6]. Evaluation of some knowledge-based multimedia systems has shown that learners can advance to the same mastery level with these systems in one-third of the time required by conventional instructional methodology. In addition, learners have shown an improvement of 40% over the performance from classroom instruction [7]. Exceptional learning advances are possible, since knowledge-based multimedia systems can adapt learner responses to their needs and foster instruction optimized for each.
The interactive multimedia system on “Computer architecture, organization, and design” was designed to encourage and help engineering and computer science students develop an integrated understanding of basic concepts that are often ignored while learning specific computational tasks. An integrated understanding, in turn, enables students to visualize and connect basic concepts that are usually presented in fragments in traditional classroom lectures. The system facilitates this understanding by presenting unified graphics or animation of concepts that bring together discussions generally found in several different textbook chapters. Information presented on the screen allows students to respond, thereby enabling them to broaden their knowledge in that subject. This type of interaction, impractical in books, lets students proceed at a pace appropriate for their individual learning levels, and guides them through learning in a unique way, providing the individualization best suited to each student.