Towards a suitable framework for blended multimedia e-learning applications

Abstract

Most universities in developing countries are using a teaching and learning approach known as blended e-learning, however, there was no a framework for blended multimedia-based e-learning applications. Further, there is no knowledge of the impact that blended multimedia-based e-learning has on learning outcomes and satisfaction of learners’ needs. This research used two undergraduate courses in the Computer Science Department at the University of Zimbabwe wherein, one posed as a control group and the other as an experimental group. These groups were taught using the blended multimedia-

based e-learning approach and blended text-based e-learning approach respectively.

Questionnaires were designed and administered to students and instructors to collect information about the level of satisfaction and the optimal mix of tools that go into blended multimedia-based e-learning. Further, students’ examination marks for the above mentioned courses were collected and used as a measure of learning outcomes. The collected information was analysed using SPSS. It was found that blended multimedia-based e-learning improves both learning out comes and the level of satisfaction of learners needs. In addition, it was also found out that the optimal mix of tools in blended learning is 55 per cent against 45 per cent in favour of the traditional face-to-face approach. Lastly, a framework for blended multimedia e-learning was developed.