Charles A. Elliot
Ed Tec 684, Management
Prof. Wackerman
November 13, 1996

Multimedia Checklist

Accuracy

  1. The SMEs have signed off all included content.

  2. Persons finding any questionable content have had it re-checked with the SMEs.

Instructional soundness

  1. There is a 100% match between objectives, instruction, and test items.

  2. The reason for each link makes sense to a typical member of the target audience.

  3. A typical member of the target audience finds the objectives relevant.

  4. There is appropriate feedback within the instruction.

Formatting elements

  1. There is not too much text on any screen as determined by a typical member of the target audience.

  2. There is variety in the use of screens. The screens use different layouts or templates.

  3. The different screens use an overall recognizable and consistent metaphor, colors, and other techniques.

  4. There are consistent uses of type fonts, sizes, styles, and alignments for the screens.

Type of screen Font Size Style Alignment
Titles Times New Roman 24 bold right
Credits Arial 36 right
Preliminaries Times New Roman 18 left
Main Menu Arial 18 left

5. Navigational buttons have consistent formatting in different screens in terms of placement, size, and color.

6. Media clips, both audio and video, will have definite formats, in terms of maximum length, placement of the video on the computer screen, and what the learner sees while listening to an audio clip. Due to extreme memory requirements for putting the Director movie on the Internet, clip lengths will be strictly enforced, with few exceptions that are only for good reasons.

 Writing style

  1. The writing uses a 5th-grade reading level.

  2. The writing uses clear language, short words, short and simple sentences, and avoids jargon. At the end of the Word 7.0 for Windows grammar checking routine, there are statistics on sentence length. To access the routine on Word 7.0 for Windows , select Tools and Grammar (Alt + T, G).

  3. Scores on readability scales should be (specific numbers to be determined), using the Flesch Reading Ease and other scales. Statistics for these scales appear at the end of the Word 7.0 for Windows grammar checking routine.

  4. There are no grammatical or punctuation errors. This requires a sign off by the senior editor. Before turning in writing for sign off, the writer needs to use the grammar checking routine.

  5. Use a consistent voice, 3rd person active.

  6. Use a conversational tone.

  7. Use a friendly and positive tone, unless the specific part of the subject matter dictates otherwise.

  8. Use of the passive voice should be in less than 5% of the sentences. Data for percent of passive sentences appears at the end of the Word 7.0 for Windows grammar checking routine.

Aesthetics

  1. All text screens are pleasing to look at in terms of balance, spacing, formatting elements. Use as a reference: Robin Williams, The non-designers design book.

  2. All graphics are pleasing to look at in terms of artistic or photographic qualities.

  3. All audio clips used have compelling content, as judged by a combination of the SMEs and members of the target audience, that a learner would want to listen to.

  4. All video clips used have compelling content, as judged by a combination of the SMEs and members of the target audience, that a learner would want to watch and listen to.

  5. All media used have simplicity and elegance.

  6. All text screens are easy on the eye for reading.

  7. If a graphic or video clip portrays an unpleasant subject, such as a hypodermic needle in a man’s arm, a positive rating for having compelling content, as judged by the people of different backgrounds, as described above, will enable this graphic to be used.

  8. If an audio clip uses grammatically incorrect or improper language, a positive rating for having compelling content, as judged by the people of different backgrounds, as described above, will enable this audio clip to be used.

Navigation

  1. How to navigate will be briefly and clearly presented at the beginning. This will be as an option that learners already familiar with multimedia navigation can choose to skip.

  2. Help screens will tell how to use each navigational button and describe various parts of the program.

  3. Navigation will always allow the learner to get back to the Main Menu, or to other appropriate locations, without being lost with no return in sight.

  4. Buttons and links will be clearly designated and consistently located.

  5. All possible navigational branches and links have been tested for functionality. This is the first and last step in programming.

Creativity

  1. Emphasize motivation.

  2. Use attention-getting devices. Reference: Keller’s ARCS motivation model.

  3. Vary the presentation method. Use a variety of media for the multimedia presentation.

  4. Present from different viewpoints, such as famous people, unique vehicles.

  5. Use analogies.