Accelerating Academic Reading with Media-Enhanced Deep Learning

Abstract

This study investigates the efficacy of integrating multi-modal media to accelerate academic reading proficiency and foster advanced scholarly communication skills among graduate scholars. It addresses the persistent challenge of engaging effectively with complex academic texts and translating nuanced understanding into clear, concise scholarly output. A cohort of 15 fourth-semester scholars participated in a mixed-methods, efficacy-focused study where they engaged with a fully media-enhanced learning framework. The findings indicate that the implementation of media resulted in significant observed gains in comprehension (18%) and retention (25%), and critically, accelerated deep learning application fluency by 35%. This enhanced comprehension directly translated into improved collaborative skills and the ability to articulate scholarly ideas, culminating in the successful co-authorship and publication/presentation of eight total scholarly works, spanning the InHEIC Proceeding (May 2025), InnoTeach 2025, and InSight 2025 conferences. The results highlight the substantial potential of this media-enhanced framework to accelerate deep learning and build a stronger, practical foundation for scholarly communication and publication, offering a robust model for curriculum integration.