USING COMPUTER ANIMATION IN HEALTH EDUCATION VIDEOS

THIS PROJECT WILL DEVELOP AND EVALUATE HEALTH-PROMOTING INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS THAT USE ANIMATION COMBINED WITH LIVE VIDEO. DESKTOP VIDEO SOFTWARE WILL BE USED TO PRODUCE SAMPLE VIDEO LESSONS. USING AN EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN, THE COGNITIVE AND ATTITUDINAL IMPACT OF THESE LESSONS ON CHILDREN IN VARIOUS TREATMENT CONDITIONS WILL BE EVALUATED. BECAUSE OF ITS ABILITY TO GAIN AND HOLD THE ATTENTION OF CHILDREN AND TO CONTROL THE VISUAL ENVIRONMENT, ANIMATION CAN BE A POWERFUL EDUCATIONAL MEDIUM. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN PERSONAL COMPUTERS AND VIDEO TECHNOLOGY MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO MIX HIGH-QUALITY COMPUTER ANIMATION WITH LIVE VIDEO AT A REASONABLE COST. INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS PRODUCED IN THIS WAY HOLD THE PROMISE OF ENHANCING THE HEALTH EDUCATION OF YOUNG STUDENTS IN SIGNIFICANT WAYS. THIS STUDY IS DESIGNED TO ESTABLISH A BASE OF KNOWLEDGE THAT WILL SERVE HEALTH EDUCATORS AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPERS. AN ANIMATION LIBRARY WILL BE PRODUCED THAT CAN BE USED, ALONG WITH THE ANIMATION SOFTWARE, BY OTHER CURRICULUM DEVELOPERS IN HEALTH EDUCATION TO PRODUCE CUSTOMIZED, INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS. DURING PHASE II, IT IS PLANNED TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS AND TO CREATE A VIDEO AUTHORING SYSTEM THAT WOULD SERVE THE NEEDS OF DEVELOPERS CREATING HEALTH PROMOTION CURRICULA FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.