A proposed multimedia cone of abstraction: updating a classic instructional design theory
Abstract
Advanced multimedia techniques offer significant learning potential for students. Dale (1946, 1954, 1969) developed a Cone of Experience (CoE) which is a hierarchy of learning experiences ranging from direct participation to abstract symbolic expression. This paper updates the CoE for today's technology and learning context, specifically focused on the use of multimedia in education. The new hierarchy, called the Multimedia Cone of Abstraction (MCoA), has fewer primary levels than the CoE but many more total levels because of multiple potential sublevels. The purpose of the MCoA is to help instructional designers of educational content to select appropriate multimedia for each learning context.
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VR is the most concrete form of multimedia, requiring minimal cognitive effort from users, making it suitable for individuals experiencing depression with impaired learning capacity.
“Moreover, VR is the most concrete form of multimedia, requiring minimal cognitive effort from users, making it suitable for individuals experiencing depression with impaired learning capacity (20).”
From A virtual reality-based self-guided training on identification of negative automatic thoughts in healthy adults: a mixed-methods feasibility study (2024) · cites this paper as [20]
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Yang, B., Liao, C., Yang, Y., Shi, B., Zhang, C., & Li, C. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1479207 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“Moreover, VR is the most concrete form of multimedia, requiring minimal cognitive effort from users, making it suitable for individuals experiencing depression with impaired learning capacity (20).”
- Authors
- Baukal, C. E.
- Corresponding author
- Baukal, Charles E.
- Venue
- i-manager's Journal of Educational Technology
- Publisher
- i-manager Publications
- Published
- 2013
- ISSN
- 0973-8827 (ISSN-L)
- 0973-0559
- 2230-7125
- OpenAlex
- W2577874637
- Cited by
- 41
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 0.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- i-manager’s Journal on Educational Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Learning Styles and Cognitive Differences
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Educational Technology and E-Learning
- Keywords
- Dale's Cone of Experience, multimedia in education, instructional design theory, educational technology, instructional media selection
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