On the Application of Multimedia in Economics Teaching

Abstract

Multimedia has become an important teaching technology in higher education inside and outside, with its advantages of super-media, strong expression, and interaction. The application of multimedia teaching connects closely with teaching reform and innovation. In this paper, authors conclude the defects of traditional economics teaching and the advantages of multimedia teaching, and put forward some practical measures for improving economics teaching effects by means of multimedia. Along with the continuous expansion of computer and multimedia technology in global teaching fields, the application and popularization of computer and multimedia technology are important for improving teaching quality and efficiency, what has been proved by practices of higher education in recent years in China. The computer and multimedia technology can help to illustrate some points more vividly, quickly, and efficiently. The unique interactive function of computer and multimedia technology can optimize the class teaching in colleges and universities. It plays an important role in promoting the quality education. Economics class teaching is to make students not only know theoretical knowledge, but also use theories to explore real economic problems. To use the multimedia teaching technology and optimize the economics teaching mode can help to train students' ability of self-learning, improving the efficiency of learning. 1. The Defects of Traditional Economics Teaching (1) In the traditional economics teaching mode, teacher is the source of knowledge. Students acquire knowledge by receiving information from teacher. As the receiver in teaching, students take knowledge passively. Their initiatives are not mobilized fully. The most prominent characteristic of economics is the various economic schools with their special strengths. Students should know them and use them to solve practical economic problems. In traditional class teaching, what the teacher conveys in the class are mainly from the book. Students could do nothing but receive them passively, without any room for innovation. (2) Traditionally, the knowledge has been conveyed by literal description. Although it can also describe the objective world, the description is abstract. Learners have to imagine the objective existence by themselves based on the literal description. It is a pretty hard process. Even with the tape recorders, video recorders, slide projectors, and other electronic teaching means, due to the poor interaction, learners have to take or control the information resources to a limited degree. As a result, learners can not choose the teaching contents and process according to self conditions. Traditional economics teaching also adopts some electronic technologies. However, these traditional electronic technologies focus on the choice and design of audiovisual media, ignoring the design of learning process and teaching mode in a sense. (3) According to the practical teaching effects of the course of economics, although the multimedia teaching method has been widely used, its positive effects, such as improving the teaching efficiency, and enhancing students' enthusiasm for learning, have not been displayed completely. Even in some cases, the application of multimedia teaching brings about a series of negative effects. For instance, the multimedia courseware are designed poorly, mostly are electronic blackboard writing or electronic notes; teachers rely on multimedia courseware too much, losing the opportunity of showing the attractiveness and the manners by means of class teaching, making the class teaching more boring. As for how to solve these problems, scholars do not present any systematic solution. 2. Advantages of Applying Multimedia to Economics Teaching (1) Display the deduction process and the model clearly. Multimedia can help to change the complex mathematical derivation and model to vivid multimedia presentation, saving the teacher's blackboard time and deepening students'