The effects of time-compressed instruction and redundancy on learning and learners’ perceptions of cognitive load

My recent article published in Computers and Education:

Abstract: Can increasing the speed of audio narration in multimedia instruction decrease training time and still maintain learning? The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of time-compressed instruction and redundancy on learning and learners’ perceptions of cognitive load. 154 university students were placed into conditions that consisted of time-compression (0%, 25%, or 50%) and redundancy (redundant text and narration or narration only). Participants were presented with multimedia instruction on the human heart and its parts then given factual and problem solving knowledge tests, a cognitive load measure, and a review behavior (back and replay buttons) measure. Results of the study indicated that participants who were presented 0% and 25% compression obtained similar scores on both the factual and problem solving measures. Additionally, they indicated similar levels of cognitive load. Participants who were presented redundant instruction were not able to perform as well as participants presented non-redundant instruction.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360131511002351

Time Compressed Instruction

What is time-compressed instruction?

Time compressed instruction is audio that has been increased in speed, yet has preserved its quality.

What are the advantages of time-compressed instruction?

My research has shown that you can compress audio/narration up to 25% and still retain high level learning and problem solving skills as long as images are used in conjunction with the narration. This could save 25% of training time if done right, which is a significant time-savings.

What are examples of time compressed instruction?

Normal speech – 0% compression

Compressed at 25%

Compressed at 50%

How do I compress speech?

Check out my video on using a free program called audacity to do it. All you need to do is change the tempo speed. At 33% tempo change, time is compressed 25%

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFk4b1itOjQ]