Multimedia usage in visual communication design education at undergraduate level: The research on the visual communication departments in Ankara

The objective of the research is to measure the students? success and the level of their knowledge in the subject of multimedia design at the undergraduate level in visual communication design education. The historical development of multimedia in the domain of visual communication and a detailed description of research components constitute the theoretical infrastructure of the research.While the faculties of the universities in Ankara which offer visual communication design education during the 2009-2010 education year, form the universe of the research, a total of 100 students who receive education in 5 faculties of the fore mentioned domain represent the sample group. The research is done in a scanning model with descriptive style. The data collection device is made up of two parts. The tables that bear the personal information of the students who has taken part in the research are given in frequency and percentage. In order to see whether the points in the information test that the students have taken differ according to the faculties they study at, T test and one-way variance analysis have been implemented. In addition, face to face interviews have been conducted with the faculty who teach various levels of visual communication design so that their views on whether the courses which provide multimedia design education in the department curriculums are adequate or not can be collected.As a result of the research, it is observed that age and sex, do not constitute an important factor in the overall student success. When the information test results are evaluated, it is understood that the students do not have sufficient knowledge. Moreover, the majority of the faculties taking part in the research has stated that in their departments, the multimedia curriculum and the course contents in that curriculum are not effective. They also expressed that their curriculums and course contents need to be changed.