IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i19p8859-d1764548.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Use of Multimedia in the Teaching and Learning Process of Higher Education: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Evelina Staneviciene

    (Department of Multimedia Technologies, Faculty of Informatics, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų Str. 50, LT-51368 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Gintarė Žekienė

    (Department of Multimedia Technologies, Faculty of Informatics, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų Str. 50, LT-51368 Kaunas, Lithuania)

Abstract

The integration of multimedia technologies is transforming teaching and learning in higher education, offering innovative ways to improve student engagement and learning outcomes. Although numerous studies investigate the impact of multimedia, there is still a clear need for a synthesis that brings together the latest evidence from a variety of disciplines and contexts. To address this need, this systematic review aims to summarize the empirical evidence and provide a clearer understanding of how multimedia is applied in higher education, to outline how educators can effectively design and the implications for curriculum design. This article focuses on three key research questions: (1) How does the integration of multimedia in higher education classrooms influence student engagement and learning outcomes? (2) How does the use of multimedia affect the development of specific skills? (3) What are the challenges and opportunities to integrate multimedia technologies into higher education? Relevant studies were systematically retrieved and screened from major academic databases, including ScienceDirect, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, Wiley Online Library, Springer, Taylor & Francis, and Google Scholar. In total, 48 studies were selected from these sources for detailed analysis. The findings showed that multimedia tools enhance student engagement, motivation, and performance when integrated with clear pedagogical strategies. In addition, multimedia helps to develop skills such as creativity, digital literacy, and independent learning. However, challenges such as technical limitations, uneven infrastructure, and the need for ongoing teacher training remain significant difficulties in fully exploiting the benefits in higher education. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated institutional support, investment in professional development, and careful alignment of multimedia tools with pedagogical goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Evelina Staneviciene & Gintarė Žekienė, 2025. "The Use of Multimedia in the Teaching and Learning Process of Higher Education: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-26, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:19:p:8859-:d:1764548
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/19/8859/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/19/8859/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ana Manzano-León & Pablo Camacho-Lazarraga & Miguel A. Guerrero & Laura Guerrero-Puerta & José M. Aguilar-Parra & Rubén Trigueros & Antonio Alias, 2021. "Between Level Up and Game Over: A Systematic Literature Review of Gamification in Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-14, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. repec:zib:zbaedc:v:1:y:2023:i:2:p:77-88 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Anna Muro & Iván Bonilla & Claudia Tejada-Gallardo & María Paola Jiménez-Villamizar & Ramon Cladellas & Antoni Sanz & Miquel Torregrossa, 2022. "The Third Half: A Pilot Study Using Evidence-Based Psychological Strategies to Promote Well-Being among Doctoral Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Renata Pereira Oliveira & Cristina Gomes de Souza & Augusto da Cunha Reis & Wallice Medeiros de Souza, 2021. "Gamification in E-Learning and Sustainability: A Theoretical Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-20, October.
    4. Alfonso D. Gajardo Sánchez & Luis R. Murillo-Zamorano & Joséà ngel López-Sánchez & Carmen Bueno-Muñoz, 2023. "Gamification in Health Care Management: Systematic Review of the Literature and Research Agenda," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    5. Thomas Mason Lim & Melor Md Yunus, 2021. "Teachers’ Perception towards the Use of Quizizz in the Teaching and Learning of English: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-15, June.
    6. Fahd Kamis Alzahrani & Waleed Salim Alhalafawy, 2023. "Gamification for Learning Sustainability in the Blackboard System: Motivators and Obstacles from Faculty Members’ Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-19, March.
    7. Racso C. Daliva & Rocel Ann A. Valbarez, 2025. "Unleashing the Powers of Gamification on Students’ Performance and Engagement in Mathematics," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(5), pages 3131-3141, May.
    8. Antonio Torralba-Burrial & Eduardo Dopico, 2023. "Promoting the Sustainability of Artisanal Fishing through Environmental Education with Game-Based Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-15, August.
    9. David Melero-Cañas & Vicente Morales-Baños & Daniel N. Ardoy & David Manzano-Sánchez & Alfonso Valero-Valenzuela, 2021. "Enhancements in Cognitive Performance and Academic Achievement in Adolescents through the Hybridization of an Instructional Model with Gamification in Physical Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-14, May.
    10. Ana Manzano-León & José Manuel Aguilar-Parra & Javier Rodríguez-Moreno & Ana María Ortiz-Colón, 2022. "Gamification in Initial Teacher Training to Promote Inclusive Practices: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-11, June.
    11. Sungjin Park & Sangkyun Kim, 2023. "The Avaritia: Entrepreneurship Practice to Understand the Problem of Information Control through Gamification," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-14, April.
    12. Mary Linet P. Magallanes & Alissa Gwyn A. Magadan & Johnre Matthew V. Absin & Vincent Gale R. Paña & Ismael B. Salarda & Charity Rose A. Pagara, 2024. "Enhancing Student Engagement through Gamification Strategies in Multi-Grade Classroom," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(8), pages 2387-2393, August.
    13. Agoritsa Makri & Dimitrios Vlachopoulos & Richard A. Martina, 2021. "Digital Escape Rooms as Innovative Pedagogical Tools in Education: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-29, April.
    14. María Fernández-Raga & Darija Aleksić & Aysun Kapucugil İkiz & Magdalena Markiewicz & Herbert Streit, 2023. "Development of a Comprehensive Process for Introducing Game-Based Learning in Higher Education for Lecturers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-18, February.
    15. Vacius Jusas & Dominykas Barisas & Mindaugas Jančiukas, 2022. "Game Elements towards More Sustainable Learning in Object-Oriented Programming Course," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-20, February.
    16. Lourdes Aragón & Carmen Brenes-Cuevas, 2025. "A Gamified Teaching Proposal Using an Escape Box to Explore Marine Plastic Pollution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-24, August.
    17. Elvira G. Rincon-Flores & Brenda N. Santos-Guevara & Lizette Martinez-Cardiel & Nadia K. Rodriguez-Rodriguez & Hernan A. Quintana-Cruz & Alberto Matsuura-Sonoda, 2023. "Gamit! Icing on the Cake for Mathematics Gamification," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-13, January.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:19:p:8859-:d:1764548. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.