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Media will never influence learning

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Abstract

The purpose of this discussion is to explain and sharpen different points of view about the impact of media and attributes of media on learning, motivation and efficiency gains from instruction. This paper is an attempt to summarize my arguments about the research and theory in this area and to respond to Robert Kozma's criticism of my earlier discussion of these issues. I will first briefly summarize my arguments about media effects; next I will attempt to characterize the many reactions to the controversial claim that media do not influence learning or motivation. Finally, I will respond to the specific criticisms advanced by Robert Kozma this issue.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Educational Psychology and Technology and Director of Professional Studies, USA

    Richard E. Clark (Professor and Chair)

  2. the School of Education at the University of Southern California at Los Angeles, USA

    Richard E. Clark (Professor and Chair)

Authors
  1. Richard E. Clark

Additional information

This article is based in part on a debate between the author and Robert Kozma at the 1993 international convention of The European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction at Aix en Provence, France, September 4, 1993, and on a February 1991 Article by the author inEducational Technology titled “When Researchers Swim Upstream:Reflections on an Unpopular Argument About Learning From Media” (pp. 34–40).

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Clark, R.E. Media will never influence learning. ETR&D 42, 21–29 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02299088

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02299088

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