The word media comes from Latin in which it is the plural of medium. It means something that is located in the middle of two parts. Therefore educational media can be interpreted as something that leads educational messages between the giver and the receiver. In Webster Dictionary (1960), media or medium is everything located in the middle in the form of stage or instrument which is used as the connectors between two things.
Association Educational Communication and Technology (AECT, 1977) defines media as all forms used to distribute information. Difference from Briggs (1977) who said that media are essentially physical tools to bring the content of learning. Another opinion said that media is something located in the middle; it’s a connector. Bretz (1971) connect all of those who need relationship and distinguish between communication media and communication tools. The difference is that the AECT’s definition of media is something which enables present the information and move the whole mutual action between the rests of the object being studied; the second one is purely to support the teacher presentation. From all off those definitions above, it can be concluded that media are people, materials, tools or events that can create conditions that allow students to receive knowledge, skills and attitude. Every medium is a tool to get to a destination. Medium is an integral part in the learning process, there is division of responsibilities between teachers and the media.
There are some kinds of media:
1. Visual Media
Visual media also called view media because someone can appreciate the media through his eyesight. This media can be divided into two kinds: visual media that are not projected and visual media that are projected. Visual media that are not projected are simple media that do not need projectors and screens to project software. It is for example, picture, caricature, poster, graphic, realia, diagram, etc. Visual media that are projected are media visual that can be projected by a projector. By the projector, the material or software can be projected in the screen, for example, OHP and slide projector, filmstrip, etc.
2. Audio media
By this media, all the information and materials can be delivered by many ways, for example recording the sound of human or animal to learn. Types of audio media that can be used in the classroom are various types of recording equipment, for example, tape recorder, radio or mp3.
3. Audio visual media
By this media someone not only can see but also can hear something that is visualized, for example, television and sound slide.
4. Multimedia
It is the use of various types of media sequentially or simultaneously to provide information, for example, interactive media, multimedia kits, hypertext, etc.

0 comments