Blog Post #2 - How To Cook New Orleans Gumbo?

Six Principles Of Effective E-Learning Using Multimedia

Based on the Clark and Mayer articles (yes, they address the same topic but provide slightly different coverage), try to find either an example of non-example of at least 3 of the multimedia principles. Post links and screen shots/graphics (see if you can do it! lots of good online resources to figure out how!) in an entry on your blog, with an annotation explaining why each link is (not) a good example of the principle.

Over the Martin Luther King's Day, I visited New Orleans. Now I know why they say "in New Orleans, we live to eat." I love Gumbo so much that I began to google for New Orleans Gumbo recipe. Here are some of my E-learning encounters ...

Let me recap the six principles of effective E-learning (especially using multimedia) from Clark and Mayer articles. They are:

(1) Multimedia Principle: Adding graphics to words can improve learning.
(2) Contiguity Principle: Placing text near graphics can improve learning.
(3) Modality Principle: Explaining graphics with audio can improve learning.
(4) Redundancy Principle: Explaining graphics with audio and redundant text can hurt learning.
(5) Coherence Principle: Using gratuitous visuals, text and sounds can hurt learning.
(6) Personalization Principle: Using conversational tone and pedagogical agents to increase learning.

My first hit was Chef Rick (see the screen shot below):















Although this site is very informative, I find it very difficult to 'visualize' what I need to do. This is a non-example of the Multimedia Principle. To improve learning, the author/designer can show a picture for each step of the cooking process.

My second hit was Gumbo Pages (see screen shot below):















This is another non-example of the Multimedia Principle. Like the first non-example, the author/designer can to show a picture for each step of the cooking process. Perhaps, the author/designer can include pictures of tarragon, oregano, and some of the ingredients to improve learning by newbies like me.

My third hit was Free Cooking Recipes (see screen shot below):















Here is another non-example of the Multimedia Principle (like the first two non-examples). This site is also a great example of the Coherence Principle. The "Whose Lips Are These? ... Free iPod" and the flashy "CONGRATULATIONS ... You Have Been Chosen To REceive A FREE Plasma TV" advertisements are great distractions and 'hurt' my learning ... I ended up clicking on those ads in hope to receive those freebies!

My fourth hit was an interesting site at New Orleans Online (see screen shot below):














The author/designer followed the Multimedia Principle to show some pictures of Gumbo next to the text. It is also a great example of the Contiguity Principle - the author/designer places some text below the pictures to explain what they pictures are. Some gratuitous graphics and text on the sidebars are examples of Coherence Principle that distract learning.

Perhaps the best way to learn how to cook a traditional New Orleans Gumbo is to see how this is done ... I almost went to Bill and his wife when I found some of these video clips on YouTube. Here is my favorite at

None of these sites follows the Modality Principle, Redundancy Principle and the Personalization Principle though! Anyone game enough to try my Gumbo?