Explain an Item- Dresser

The One Take Tongue Twister

The Most Dull Video Ever

Videos are a great style of media that connect visual representation with audio and/ or text. This format of using multiple senses in one file makes videos an extremely useful method of media. The one difficulty with videos is that it needs technology to function, unlike photos and written text, videos cannot be printed to make a book or a poster. This issue is not too pressing, as many people have access to technology today, but it does still limit viewing from various audiences.

From the Daily Creates prompts, the Explain an Item video is a great example of how videos can make things easier to learn and (potentially) more engaging. In my video explaining the dresser, I was able to show viewers what a typical dresser looked like, showing different angles and opening the drawers, while providing audio to explain what the purpose of the dresser was and what the drawers were.

The One Take Tongue Twister prompt is a good example of how someone could incorporate text into a video. By adding an image or text of the tongue twister I was reading, it would help viewers follow along with what I was trying to say. This would be helpful, especially for this video where the words were maybe a bit jumbled and blending together, to be more engaged and better follow along to the audio. This makes sure content is clear, specifically when the text is used to highlight key information from the video. The dresser video for example, I could use text to highlight the name of each part (dresser, drawer, handle) and have a written list of the uses of dressers/ what they can hold.

Having these multiple modes of media available in one video can be extremely beneficial to grasp viewers attention. A person may not be looking directly at the video to see the visuals, but they are still able to hear the explanation or other audio that goes with the video. Vice versa, if someone is unable to focus on or hear the audio (in a crowded/ loud space or deaf), they can still see the visual aspect, potentially watching the step-by-step process. If there is text, they can also read along to the video and grasp what the audio is trying to say/ explain.

Videos connect strongly to Mayer’s principles because they can naturally combine visuals, audio, and sometimes text, which makes them an effective tool for communicating information clearly. For example, in my “Explain an Item” video, showing the dresser from different angles while describing its purpose reflects the Multimedia Principle, since viewers receive information through both what they see and what they hear. Adding text or labels, like in the One Take Tongue Twister prompt or even in the dresser video, aligns with the Modality Principle by balancing visual and verbal channels so the viewer isn’t overloaded. Keeping the video focused on only the necessary visuals and explanations also follows the Coherence Principle, ensuring that every element supports understanding rather than distracting from it. Even though videos require technology to access, their ability to offer multiple modes of meaning with visuals and audio (and optional text) makes them accessible to a wider range of viewers and demonstrates how Mayer’s principles can enhance clarity and engagement in everyday media.

(Videos have been cropped to fit within the size requirements to share from my phone to my laptop, so I apologize if the videos seem short and missing information i.e the dresser video)