University Textbooks; Research and Writting

University Textbooks; Research and Writting

Evaluation and Comparison of Two Multimedia Learning Textbooks from the Perspective of Education Science Students

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Raha Abedi
Zohreh Rahatlooei
Mohadeseh Alaiee
Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran
10.30487/rwab.2025.2049141.1635
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare two academic textbooks, "E-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning" and "Multimedia Projects in Education: Designing, Producing, and Assessing," from the perspective of education science students. The study population consisted of education science students at the University of Tehran, from whom 18 students were purposefully selected as a sample. Using a descriptive-survey method and employing evaluation and critique indices for academic textbooks, five indices—content, method, language, structure, and appearance—were evaluated and compared in both books. The results of the paired t-test showed that, from the students' point of view, there was a significant difference in the content and method indices (P < 0.05) between the two books, but no significant difference was observed in the three indices of language, structure, and appearance. The book "E-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning," which addressed the cognitive psychological foundations of multimedia learning and evidence-based methods in its content and method, was rated better by the students. Given that the use of student feedback has increased as a criterion for selecting textbooks, it is suggested that, in the selection of multimedia academic textbooks, those that effectively present complex concepts with an emphasis on underlying cognitive psychological principles, provide clear evidence-based explanations, and actively engage students should be taken into consideration.
Keywords
University Textbook Evaluation
Multimedia Learning
E-learning
Education Science Students

Subjects

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    Translation: Ivers, K. S.; Barron, A. E. (2010), Multimedia Projects in Education: Design, Production, and Evaluation (translated by Khadijeh Aliabadi & Esmaeil Aslani, 2016), Tehran: Booye Kaghaz (Scent of Paper).

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    Translation: Pourghaz, S.; Toumaj, A. J. (2021), The Effect of Multimedia and Blended Education on Students’ Academic Achievement in Social Studies, Scientific Journal of Research in Social Studies Education, Third Period, No. 3.

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    Translation: Taghadomi, M. Sh.; Mazandarani, A. A. (2022), The Best Way to Prepare Asynchronous Online Educational Content: The Perspective of Content Experts Preparing University Books for Humanities Students, Research and Writing of University Books, Volume 26, Number 51, 144-168.

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