Beyond the Limits (of Comprehensibility): Visual Media in the Teaching of Complex Content

Multimedia learning requires optimising information presentation in line with learners’ cognitive processes. Active processing depends on selecting relevant information, organising it into coherent mental representations, and integrating it with prior knowledge. When grounded in instructional design principles (cognitive load management, active learning, and alignment with learning objectives), video animations can be highly effective. In teaching complex content, visual strategies such as examples, analogies, images, infographics, and videos help make abstract or invisible concepts accessible. This review examines research on animations in formal education, noting its rapid growth (partly driven by AI), STEM predominance, and mixed findings on learning gains and persistent biases.