The Analysis of Illustrations for Biological Education in the National High School Exam in light of the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning

Abstract: This research aimed to analyze the illustrations related to the area of Biology presented in the National High School Exam (ENEM), with the subsidy of the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML), its instructional value and possible imagery deviations. The approach to content in Biology Teaching in many cases needs images to mediate the understanding of structures and processes. ENEM presents some questions with illustrations to guide the navigation of written texts, however they may present design mistakes or lack information, thus making rubrics and instructions difficult to understand. CTML establishes multimedia principles for measuring the instructional value of images. In the ENEM, there were illustrations of Didactic Value with deviations in the Coherence and Signaling Principles. It is important to pay greater attention to the idealization and insertion of images in these exams and alike, in order to avoid misconceptions which can influence the understanding of questions and interfere in the assessment of candidates.