Defense Date

5-6-2025

Graduation Date

Summer 8-8-2025

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

EdD

Department

Instructional Technology (EdDIT)

School

School of Education

Committee Chair

Misook Heo

Committee Member

Xia Chao

Committee Member

Natalie Toomey

Keywords

Multimedia, Instructional Technology, Education, Animation, Gender, Second Language Acquisition, Spatial Ability, STEM Education

Abstract

The widespread availability of multimedia learning resources, driven by technological progress, presents both opportunities and challenges in education. While these resources, often designed with animations to aid learning, their effectiveness in learning across STEM and non-STEM fields remains controversial. Besides, researchers have increasingly turned their attention to understanding how individual learner characteristics such as gender and spatial ability influence effectiveness of multimedia learning.

This dissertation examined the impact of visualization type and gender on learning algorithms (STEM) and Chinese characters (non-STEM) after accounting for the effect of spatial ability, focusing on learning outcomes and cognitive load. The fact that males tend to perform better in STEM learning with regard to leaning outcome and intrinsic cognitive load, suggests that societal and cultural influences might contribute to these disparities. Educators might consider using teaching methods that specifically help female students with the fundamental aspects of learning and managing their mental workload more effectively. The study also highlights the significant role of spatial ability in learning across both domains, influencing learning processes and cognitive load. This study filled a critical gap by revealing previously overlooked role of spatial ability in learning, particularly in non-STEM domains such as the acquisition of Chinese characters. By showing its impact on both learning outcomes and cognitive load, this research has important practical implications for improving second language education and learning experience design.

In summary, while multimedia learning in STEM is well-studied, this research addressed a significant gap by examining the roles of gender and spatial ability in non-STEM domains, such as second language learning. The significant effects of gender and spatial ability underscore their complex interaction across learning contexts.

Language

English

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