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There has been an increasing focus on student-generated multimedia assessment as a way of introducing the benefits of both visual literacy and peer-mediated learning into university courses. One such assessment was offered to first-year health science students but, contrary to expectations, led to poorer performance in their end-of-semester examinations. Following an analysis, the assignment was redesigned to offer students a choice of either a group-based animation task or an individual written task. Results showed improved performance on the assignment when students were offered a choice of assignments over when they were offered only the multimedia assignment. Student feedback indicated that students adopt deliberate individual learning strategies when offered choices in assessment. The study suggests that assumptions regarding the superiority of student-generated multimedia over more traditional assessments are not always correct, but that students' agency and individual preferences need to be recognized.

This paper reports on attempts to incorporate creative visual literacy, by way of student owned technology, and sharing of student-generated multimedia amongst peers to enhance learning in a first year human physiology course. In 2013, students were set the task of producing an animated video, which outlined the pathogenesis of a chosen disease. Students were then encouraged to view each other's videos. Students in the same course in 2012 engaged in a purely written, non-shared task. The depth of topic understanding did not change between 2012 and 2013. Moderating for cohort variation, students in 2013 showed poorer overall learning outcomes than students in the 2012 cohort. The authors speculate that the peer mediated aspect of the learning activity failed, and that the video task was disruptive to wider learning, due to it being time consuming and unfamiliar to students.

Analytic expressions were used to investigate temperature and probe beam deflection for multilayer systems. The approach utilized Green's functions applied in Fourier transform space appropriate for steady periodic heating in order to treat the exact heating distribution in multilayers analytically. In addition, temperature and heat flux matching conditions between adjacent regions were also used.

Details a study which described the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in terms of Kerr effect in evaporated and sputtered cobalt/platinum multilayer films. Preparation of the study samples; Effects of sputtering parameters on magneto-optical Kerr effect; Results and discussion.

Examines the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) for two-medium layered systems. Applications of MOKE; Systems of two thick media with single interface; Discussion on the physical origins of Kerr effects.

Presents a study which prepared thin cobalt/platinum (Co/Pt) multilayers (ML) on silicon and glass substrates by sputtering with argon pressures. Studies on Co/Pt ML; Materials and methods used; Overview of low angle x-ray diffractogram from argon gas; Explanation on the mechanism of how CoPt[sub3+δ] compound forms; Observation of the systematic changes of coercivity and Kerr rotation of the films.

Presents a study that optically and magneto-optically characterized TbFeCo thin films in trilayer structures. Techniques used in preparing the amorphous films; Characterization of the samples; Measurement of the silicon substrate and Si[sub3]N[sub4] optical constants.

Presents an equation which can be used to calculate the spectral enhancement of the Kerr rotation due to a dielectric coating in a two-layer sample. Comparison between the calculated and experimental results for silicon oxide-coated Dy/Co compositionally modulated alloys; Equations for dielectric coated systems; Experimental details and results.

Presents an overview of a study which provided optical and polar Kerr experimental results for compositionally modulated magnetic terbium(Tb)/cobalt (Co) films with varied Tb to Co concentration ratios. Experimental methods used; Role of the localized rare earth (RE) moments in the RE-transitional metal alloys; Effect of the Tb on Co composition changes in the samples.