Question

One of your guest speakers is a scientist who works with a nonprofit organization to educate communities about endangered species. He is concerned that the language he used in the podcast episode might be too complex for a non-scientific audience watching the video.

How could you help him with your use of digital media to make his presentation easier for the audience to understand?
Question 2 options:

Show a lengthy video of another scientist explaining the topic verbally.


Create a video of cute animals playing to show the audience.


Create a slide show with only blocks of text and ask the scientist to read it aloud.


Create a presentation that includes a balance of text, pictures, and verbalization of main points.

Answer 1

Correct choice: Create a presentation that includes a balance of text, pictures, and verbalization of main points.

Why: Balanced multimedia follows proven principles of comprehension — combine short, simple text (key points), clear images or infographics, and spoken explanation. That reduces cognitive load, reinforces ideas in multiple ways, and keeps non‑scientific audiences engaged.

Quick tips to implement:
- Use plain language; define any necessary terms with simple examples or analogies.
- Keep slides sparse: one idea per slide, 3–6 words per line, short bullets.
- Use photos, diagrams, or short animations that illustrate the concept (not decorative only).
- Narrate main points clearly and at a moderate pace; avoid reading slides verbatim.
- Add captions and a transcript for accessibility and for viewers who prefer reading.
- Include a short summary slide and 1–2 concrete takeaways or actions the audience can remember.
- Consider a brief Q&A or a few audience-friendly stories about the species to increase relevance.

These adjustments will make the scientist’s message much easier for a general audience to understand and retain.