
The Medical Faculty of the University of Bern uses voice-over in picture driven elearning
modules to avoid split attention induced by the modality effect. To lower production
costs, professional narrators have been replaced by computer-generated voices. The e-learning
modules are produced with a content management system (CMS) offering text-to-speech
functionality. 107 Swiss high school students passed a 20-minute e-learning sequence on cystic
fibrosis. In a nested between-group design with four learning content presentation modalities
(written text vs. human voice-over vs. artificial voice-over plus 15"-laptop-screens vs.
2,8"smart-phone screens), the learning outcome was assessed at three points in time: before,
just after, and six weeks after the learning phase. All modalities led to significant short-term
and long-term increase in factual knowledge about cystic fibrosis. Our two hypotheses are
supported: (1) presenting pictures with both human and artificial voice-over leads to the same
factual learning outcome, and (2) the e-learning module leads to the same learning outcome and
acceptance independent of devices and their screen sizes. Furthermore, the image-voice-over
modality on mobile devices (small screens) turned out to be a setting with no significant
difference in effectiveness.