Imagine trying to teach your students about the solar system using only a textbook. Sounds boring, doesn’t it? Now, think about how engaged they would be if you also showed them a cinematic sped-up video of the planets’ orbits. Perhaps they can even build a model of the whole solar system! When you think about it, there are so many tools you can use to transform the learning environment for your students.
This is the magic of multimodal learning—engaging different senses, such as sight, hearing, and touch, to create an unforgettable learning experience. Instead of just writing down lesson notes, students get to do different activities, such as watching videos, completing puzzles, playing games, and discussing their opinions with each other. This approach can make education more fun and effective.
By this point, you might be wondering: what is multimodal learning exactly? And how can you apply it in your own classroom to get the best results? We’ll answer these questions, and more, in this article.
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What Is Multimodal Learning?
Multimodal learning is an educational approach that involves different sensory channels, such as vision and hearing, to create an engaging learning experience. For example, face-to-face classes can include videos and interactive classroom games such as crosswords or trivia. Students can then reinforce their learning by conducting scientific experiments, going on field trips, and even playing a few educational puzzles as they study.
The 4 Types of Learning Styles Used in Multimodal Learning
To create a successful multimodal education system, you need to know which learning styles work best for your students. For example, they can have one or more strong preferences for a certain style. However, some learners might not have a particular inclination towards only one learning method over the others. So, knowing your students’ preferred styles can help you build a more effective multimodal framework that accommodates their needs.
The four main types of learning according to the popular VARK model are:
- Visual: This style refers to a preference for using visual media, such as images, videos, and illustrations, for learning. In practice, a visual learner can benefit from educational videos, presentations with plenty of diagrams, and color-coded notes.
- Auditory: Auditory learning means having a preference for information that is perceived through hearing, such as listening to podcasts, songs, and webinars. Students who prefer this learning style might like listening to audiobook versions of their textbooks. Alternatively, they can choose to discuss the lesson material with you or with their colleagues.
- Reading and writing: Students who prefer reading and writing often study by reading passages of text and writing notes with their own hands. This is the most common style of learning worldwide.
- Kinesthetic: Finally, kinesthetic learning engages students through movement and hands-on activities. This style can include physical exercise, educational games, or field trips.
One thing you should note about these learning styles is that they act as guides rather than rules. This means that a student might have a preference for one style but can learn better with a combination of all four. As a result, multimodal learning systems can accommodate a large variety of learning preferences with higher chances of success.
What Are the Benefits of Multimodal Learning?
Multimodal learning can give your students a better educational experience that’s accessible to all of them. In contrast, other learning approaches might favor a certain learning style that can be incompatible with your students’ needs. So with that in mind, let’s find out why many educators recommend multimodal learning as an educational system:
- It offers more autonomy for students: Since different forms of media are used, multimodal learning tends to provide a variety of study materials to students. This gives them the opportunity to choose their preferred content formats. As a result of that, students are encouraged to take control of their educational journey rather than follow pre-written instructions.
- It makes students excited to learn and gain knowledge: Studies have shown that students feel more motivated to learn under a multimodal learning system over a traditional one. This is because the multiple content formats engage more of their senses, which can form a game-changing learning experience.
- It promotes creative thinking: Creative thinking is a skill that needs practice and support to improve. Luckily, multimodal learning also has an impact on this particular skill. In fact, research shows that there’s a strong link between multimodal learning and creative problem-solving. That’s because this framework provides students with a variety of resources, which encourages them to apply lessons in innovative ways.
- It is more accessible than using just one learning style: Unfortunately, certain learning methods that work for some students can be ineffective or unusable for others. For example, an audio lecture without a transcript is inaccessible to hard-of-hearing students. This can be remedied by implementing some form of multimodal learning, which increases the accessibility of your course for both abled and disabled students.
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What Are the Drawbacks of Multimodal Learning?
Given the numerous benefits of multimodal learning, then why has it not been adopted by all educational institutions? In truth, this approach might not always be a practical solution, especially in areas with limited access to learning resources.
Let’s take a look at some of the drawbacks that might come with multimodal learning:
- It can be expensive or time-consuming to implement: A full multimodal learning framework needs time and money to set up, which might not always make it efficient to use. However, there are still simple ways to implement some form of multimodality in your course. For example, you can show your students educational videos accompanied by transcripts, engaging visual learners and readers at the same time.
- It might increase the risk of distraction for some students: Though having lots of varied content can be helpful for students, it might be distracting for some of them. In some cases, students can get overwhelmed by the amount of sensory input they’re receiving, which can impact their ability to focus. To minimize these risks, start by using only a few types of learning materials and add more if the need arises.
12 Ways to Incorporate Multimodal Learning Strategies in Your Classroom
Are you looking to use some examples of multimodal learning in your class? Then take a look at the following ideas. Feel free to use them as a source of inspiration or as a starting point!
- Showcase real-life examples or case studies through videos, research, and guest speakers
One way to ensure that your students understand a lesson is by showcasing real-life applications. For example, you can play videos about the uses of certain chemical compounds in baking (visual). Or, you can instruct your students to write a research paper on a topic that is under-researched or uncommon (reading and writing). To take it one step further, you can invite guest speakers who are experts on the subject matter to your class and allow the students to ask them questions about their work (auditory). Doing this can help your students better connect the subject material with its real-life applications.
- Use an adaptive learning platform to customize your courses to your students’ preferred styles
An adaptive learning platform can help you tailor the contents of your course to different students’ needs. With the right tools, you can measure students’ performance and provide them with a personalized learning path. Fortunately, there are plenty of adaptive learning platforms to choose from, each with its perks and limitations. So, try one that offers the features you need and observe your students’ performance to see how effectively it supports their learning.
- Create an interactive textbook with videos, 3D models, and minigames
The days of plain textbooks are long gone. Now, you can create interactive textbooks that are much more versatile than regular ebooks and include features like videos and audio clips. By using ebook creators, such as Kotobee Author, you can add all sorts of interactive widgets, pop-ups, 3D models, and even mini-games to your textbook. This can be a comprehensive multimodal learning solution!
Important Read: How to Create an Interactive Textbook for Your Students
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- Assign your students a variety of assignments with different multimodal activities:
Rather than giving students the same types of assignments daily, you can mix in new activities to keep them engaged. You can combine writing tasks with hands-on projects, and interactive discussions. For example, try turning a language class into a treasure hunt with a theme and some clues (kinesthetic). If that’s not possible, then you can introduce an educational game like sudoku or have them debate the topic of the lesson with one another (auditory).
- Test your students using games and puzzles:
To make learning a more fulfilling experience for students, try adding different types of quizzes and tests than the traditional ones. For instance, you can use puzzles such as crosswords, spot the difference, or even video games that rely on quiz-like levels for progression. Not only are these activities fun, but they can also challenge learners to think creatively. Plus, they can utilize all four learning styles, making them accessible to nearly every student.
- Take your students on virtual or physical field trips:
There’s no better way to combine learning with exploration than by taking your students on a field trip (kinesthetic). But to maximize the value of the experience, make sure to give them enough space to look around. Every now and then, you can ask them oral questions or give them a small set of written ones to answer.
As an alternative for physical trips, you can use VR to simulate a virtual expedition for your students (visual/auditory). With VR, you can choose different locations in the world for the trip, including outer space!
- Provide transcripts of video and audio material:
Whenever you use audio or video clips in a lesson, try to provide your students with a transcript of the material (visual). This can make these media more accessible to all students while engaging several senses at the same time. Additionally, they can study from the transcript later on or annotate it as they like (reading/writing).
- Try a game-based learning approach:
For students who like challenges or get distracted easily, you can try game-based learning. This approach involves using existing or custom-designed games for teaching or studying.Â
Depending on the game, your students can take advantage of all four styles of learning at the same time. This keeps them engaged with the game and, by extension, the lesson they’re learning through it. Over time, this approach to education can lead students to love learning and perform better on tests.Â
A few examples of educational games include physical ones like charades or video games such as Kerbal Space Program.
- Use diagrams, charts, and illustrations to simplify complicated topics:
A diagram or chart can help students visualize concepts in most subjects, including math, science, history, and literature (visual). For example, you can use a pie chart to explain ratios and percentages. In a physics class, you can include an illustrated diagram of a boy throwing a ball to explain velocity and trajectory.
- Review test answers out loud with your class:
After a quiz or exam, you have an opportunity to teach students how to learn from their mistakes. Start by compiling a list of the most common errors they’ve made on the test. After that, discuss with your students the origins of each mistake as well as how to fix them (auditory/reading/writing). Just avoid calling out the names or scores of any students who got incorrect answers as this can damage their confidence.
- Turn practice problems into hands-on activities:
What if, rather than solving a classic math word problem on their own, students can get creative about the process? By turning practice questions into physical activities, you can encourage students to think creatively and come up with their own solutions. For example, students can act out historical events in the form of a play in history class (kinesthetic). Alternatively, you can make math classes more fun to solve by setting up a market stall with 23 watermelons!
- Repurpose your content into different formats:
Let’s say you have a detailed textbook that’s packed with useful information (reading/writing). Why not turn it into a series of entertaining videos (visual)? Or perhaps you can create an audiobook version for students to listen to (auditory). By repurposing your content, you can implement a multimodal learning system in less time and at a lower cost.
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Final Thoughts
The old, traditional classroom structure is quickly growing outdated—and several new competitors have risen to challenge it. One of them is the multimodal learning framework, which can offer your students a vibrant learning experience that’s fresh and exciting. With this system, you can turn learning into a fun and interactive activity that students can become passionate about. So if you haven’t used this approach yet, take the first step today and help your students thrive in class.
What are your favorite strategies for multimodal learning? And which ones do your students find the most effective? Share your insights with us in the comments section below.
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