This study reviewed and analyzed research on educational media. Most early research provided comparison studies. To justify instructional media use, its effect on student performance on standardized test was compared to the effect of the traditional l...
This study reviewed and analyzed research on educational media. Most early research provided comparison studies. To justify instructional media use, its effect on student performance on standardized test was compared to the effect of the traditional lecture method. Later, these comparison studies were criticized because of flaws in research design. Then cultural studies were reviewed. Finally, symbol system research was analyzed. Proponents who view media as symbol systems criticized comparison studies because they tried to compare "apples and oranges." Different media bring unique impact on learning, and cannot be measured with standardized evaluation mechanisms developed for printed media.