What Is Multimodal Learning Theory & How to create It

SMBs and even large companies often start small and don't force the development of learning strategies. They begin with several text materials with a couple of images. At some point, those will be required to meet all the training requirements. A growing number of learners calls for new solutions, including new learning formats, and a multimodal approach is one of those answers.

Training an employee is a complex and multifaceted process. Multi-modality learning offers many tools and ways to make learning more engaging and immersive. But what does it mean to be a multimodal learner? The answer is below.

What Is Multimodal Learning?

To define multimodal learning, let's address our senses and information channels. We can consume information in three main ways – kinesthetic or via tactile learning, visual and audio. All these channels are engaged in learning. For example, one uses only the visual channel when reading a handbook. Watching a video also implies listening, thus involving audio and visual. The recipe to successful learning is simple—the more channels one involves, the easier it will be to memorize the material.

Engaging multiple channels for learning is the main idea behind multimodal learning. In turn, a multimodal learner definition is a person who uses various channels to consume learning materials. Let's take a standard upskilling procedure. As a first step, you give a learner text material with clear pictures and explanations. Then, launching a webinar involving visual and audio channels with descriptions. The final step is to let the worker demonstrate their new knowledge in practice. Depending on the industry, it may be creating a demo, using a product, etc. All these steps help to enforce learning and achieve better results with it.

Benefits Of Multimodal Learning Style

Companies and SMBs demonstrate multimodal learning preference as it creates an exciting and cozy learning environment for learners. It helps to avoid being forced to learn, allowing everyone to work with learning materials comfortably. Even if one doesn't like working with texts, they have access to video or audio materials or even social interactions. Such diversity helps learners to match their learning style with the material, making it convenient to work with.

Another aspect of multimodal learning is that it involves modern technologies. Learners, especially younger generations, love using modern technologies. They benefit from current technological training partner software way more than older ones. In turn, the multimodal learning style offers them a convenient learning method, enhancing the general result.

Best Multimodal Learning Strategies Worth Applying

Knowing what a multimodal learner is, bet you are eager to implement it in your company, organization, or business. It is a long path but a beneficial one. Luckily, with the current level of technologies, implementing multimodal learning strategies may take only slight adjustments while providing outstanding results with training learners, upskilling workers, or onboarding new hires.

1. Establishing Multimodal Inputs

Has it been long since you reviewed your learning materials? Ensure you have audio podcasts, videos, texts, diagrams, pictures, graphs, animations, presentations, etc. The information in these sources may overlap, but this will let learners access content when needed. They will also use the easiest-to-consume, understand and memorize content.

2. Offering Choice

This strategy is about giving learners work when assessing obtained knowledge. IT assumes allowing choosing additional tasks to demonstrate their understanding. For example, in addition, to writing an essay, quiz, or completing tests, let them decide on an extra activity related to their work and learned material. It can be something industry-related that gives learners a chance to control their path to success.

3. Giving Feedback

All self-respecting service providers offering SaaS onboarding tools agree that learning can't exist without giving feedback to learners. Providing feedback in person may not always be possible. Consider recording voice messages, videos, demonstrations, presentations, etc. It would guide learners, showing the final destination. The best option is to give regular feedback. For example, after a learner completes a course and takes a test, record a brief video discussing their results.

Enhancing Learning with Multimodal Approaches 

Discover how multimodal approaches can transform traditional learning environments into dynamic and interactive spaces that meet the diverse needs of students. Let's embark on a journey to enhance learning outcomes through the power of multimodal approaches.

1. Incorporate Multimodal Learning Strategies 

To cater to the diverse needs of multimodal learners, implement various multimodal teaching strategies. This includes utilizing different media formats within your courses, such as text, images, videos, audio, and interactive elements. Embracing multimodal learning theory allows for a more comprehensive and engaging learning experience. 

2. Implement Blended Learning Techniques 

To create a multi-learner environment, utilize blended learning techniques, combining online and in-person instruction. This approach leverages multimodal training by providing students with face-to-face interactions, virtual discussions, online assignments, and multimedia resources. It promotes a dynamic and interactive learning atmosphere. 

3. Encourage Multimodal Assignments 

Promote multimodal learning by encouraging students to complete assignments that utilize multiple modes of expression. This could involve creating presentations, videos, podcasts, or visual representations to demonstrate their understanding. Emphasizing multimodal teaching strategies fosters creativity and deepens comprehension. 

4. Provide Feedback through Multimodal Channels in Your LMS 

Leverage your learning management system (LMS) to provide feedback using different media formats. Alongside written comments, consider incorporating audio or video feedback. This multimodal feedback approach accommodates various learning styles, enhancing student engagement and understanding.

You may develop an inclusive learning environment that fulfills the requirements of multimodal learners by adopting multimodal learning methodologies and embracing the ideas of multimodal learning theory. Students can engage with course material in ways that suit their interests and skills using multimodal teaching tactics and multimodality learning methodologies. Accept the power of multimodality to improve everyone's learning experience.

Multimodal Learning Examples

So, multimodal instruction includes which components? Let's look at the examples of this application of multimodal learning theory in practice. Wait to start applying multimodal learning in your business before reading this. Some of these components may have pitfalls that may slow down the progress.

Personalized Entries

Let the learners highlight the learner's material with their words and share new knowledge. The key here is to achieve high personalization levels of such journal entries. Let the learners use any means to express their thoughts, for example, stories, videos, illustrations, chats, etc. Similarly, ensure a comfortable and cozy atmosphere for them to present the results.

Games

Gaming requires players to use all modes — words, colors, shapes, movement, speech, etc. It makes them so entertaining that kids want to play more. This applies to adult learners, too, as playing games can be fun for people of all ages. One may not even realize they are learning while playing.

Most effective games can be conducted in person, but online learning still leaves plenty of space for gaming. For example, AcademyOcean offers a good deal of gamification techniques and ways in their LMS. Certain gamified elements, such as leaderboards, can enforce learning.

Collaborative learning

This method can be engaging and compelling, boosting the learner's understanding of the material. It is also called the think-pair-share model. It assumes communication between learners and engaging them to share their views, knowledge, and skills.

The model can be conducted in steps. During the first ones, learners individually work with materials and understand them. The second step involves paring learners and engaging them in discussions. The third step consists in sharing thoughts with everyone and answering their questions. Like in the previous case, it applies different ways of information consumption.

Real-life Scenarios

This method assumes using real cases from practice or studies. Introduce learners to real examples and learning materials that relate to the topics. Provide any information about the subject, letting learners share knowledge and ideas on resolving it. This method can take several lessons or days. You can also assign projects to show learners that their new knowledge can actually be put into practice.

Research Projects

Encouraging learners to do personal research projects, including numerous sources and distinctive models, is a great way to solidify their learning. For example, arrange multimedia research projects to motivate learners to search for information in different media. You can also involve traditional press and digital sources. Set several essential references for learners to cite when they write an article or work on the funnel. A personalized presentation is a final step. Ensure that learners have all the freedom to make their presentations unique.

Final Thoughts 

Hassling or revolution aren't goals. Involve these changes step by step, and you will still feel a difference. The key to success here is to focus on quality instead of quantity. You may not have many distinct types of learning materials, but make sure that existing ones are brought to perfection, and then add new courses.