Journal Article: Summary
Summary: Multimedia as teaching system for special needs students
Title: " Engaging students in multimedia-mediated Constructivist learning – Students’ perceptions "
Name: Whitney Houck
Date: 8/3/09
Reference: Neo, M., & Neo, T.-K. (2009). Engaging students in multimedia-mediated Constructivist learning – Students’ perceptions. Educational Technology & Society, 12 (2), 254–266.

Problem: The Malaysian government has been trying to develop a new type of learner, who displays “creativity, communications skills, analytical and critical thinking, and problem-solving skills” (Neo, 254). The government hopes to create this type of learner through the use of constructivist multimedia. The study detailed in this paper evaluates students’ perspectives of this type of multimedia.
Context: 53 students in their second year of studies at the Faculty of Management, the Faculty of Information Technology and the Faculty of Engineering, enrolled in the Interactive Multimedia course participated over 14 weeks.
The students were tasked with creating an interactive group project (targeting the theme “Malaysian Culture” via multimedia) using the proscribed media program, whose goal was to teach the subject of Malaysian Culture to others. The students completed a survey following the project indicating their perception of learning while creating a multimedia project.
Findings: The students were able to complete the project satisfactorily. Completing this group project, students reported being motivated by the type of learning and project they were completing, enjoying the project, working well with team members, and understanding real-world application of the project. The research went on to state that developing a multimedia project such as this within a classroom or similar environment would create better skilled worker than other methods of learning.
Recommendations: I concur with the author that this type of learning, specifically creating your own type of learning program based upon a predetermined subject, increases student motivation, understanding, and application skills, and as such should be used in future teachings.  Hands-on projects, especially those which provide the student a great deal of flexibility, often result in the greatest buy-in, learning, and enjoyment by students. This type of flexibility and teaching style, primarily when targeting a technical yet creative subject such as multimedia programs, is valuable and leads to some of the best results.