Effect of the use of multimedia course materials (prepared in accordance with multimedia design principles and delivered via learning management system-moodle) on higher education student?s cognitive load and success in the C# programming course

The overall aim of this study is to search the effect of the use of MOODLE Learning Management System multimedia course materials prepared in accordance with the multimedia design principles on higher education students? successes and cognitive loads.The research was carried out with the secondary year students of Başkent University Faculty of Education. Students from Computer and Instructional Technologies Education and Secondary Mathematics Education departments in 2010-2011 educational year spring semester were involved in this research. The experimental group consisted of 35 Secondary Mathematics Education department students and the control group had 25 Computer and Instructional Technologies Education department students. The teaching for the experimental group was carried out with Microsoft Office PowerPoint presentations that were prepared and loaded on MOODLE Learning Management System by the teacher. Also the materials prepared in accordance with the multimedia design principles were used inthis group. The teaching for the control group was carried out with only Microsoft Office PowerPoint presentations prepared that were loaded on MOODLE Learning Management System by the teacher. C# programming academic achievement test, cognitive load scale and semi-structured interview questions were used as data collection tools.Quantitative data were analyzed with SPSS 16.0 using ANOVA, correlation and independent sample group t-test. Data collected from the interview questions were used to explain and support the results of qualitative data.The result of the study indicated that C# programming teaching realized with MOODLE Learning Management System in the experimental group via materials prepared in accordance with multimedia design principles and presentations prepared by the teacher was found to be more efficent in students? successes and cognitive load levels when compared with the teaching Microsoft Office PowerPoint presentations of the control group. Besides, the interviews conducted with both groups of students showed that the experimental group students have positive opinions about materials in MOODLE Learning Management System and teaching environment.