The Modality Principle states that words in multimedia presentations are "audio narration rather than on-screen text" (Clark & Mayer, 2011, p. 115). Mode, the root word of modality, can be defined as "a manner of acting or doing; method; way" (Mode, n.d.). So, it is best to think of the Modality Principle as defining that the best mode of delivering text would be through audio means as opposed to visual means. Below, I give a clear example of when visual text would completely interfere with the purpose of a multimedia presentation.
Modality Principle
One evening recently, my husband asked me what type of homework I had to do for the evening. After telling him I needed to complete the first five entries for my MEDT 7468 MMD Journal, he asked what types of entries I needed to make. I mentioned needed an example of the Modality Principle. After describing it to him as I did in the introduction to this page, he mentioned that the How to Tie a Bowtie tutorials at The Art of Manliness would be the perfect example. This is already a complex task, having to watch a demonstration while following along with one's own tie. Imagine trying to do the same while reading the steps instead of hearing them described!
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References
Clark, R. C., & Mayer, R. E. (2011). E-learning and the science of instruction: Proven guidelines for consumers and designers of multimedia learning. San Francisco: Pfeiffer.
Mode. (n.d.). In Dictionary.com. Retrieved from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/mode
The Art of Manliness. (2013 April 12). How to tie a bow tie. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD9SWgodiek