“The more visual the input becomes, the more likely it is to be recognized – and recalled.”
John Medina, brain rules
The use of visual aids enhances the learning process. Visuals can break up monotony and make difficult concepts easier. Our brains process a picture more quickly than words, making visuals an important part of any course design.
We learn and remember best through pictures, not spoken words unless those words create a visual memory.
Stories are a visual use of spoken words.
We pay attention to:
- Color
- Orientation
- Size
- Objects in motion
Richard Mayer has found that:
- We learn better from words and pictures than words alone
- We learn best when words and pictures appear together
- We learn best when words are close to pictures
- We learn best when extraneous material is excluded
- We learn better from animation and narration than from animation and on screen text.
Skill Building Methods
Provide VISUAL examples, instructions, and concepts.
Eliminate extra, unneeded words and images.
Draw hard to understand concepts.
Provide narration with animation in elearning.
Tell vision rich stories to support concepts.
References & Resources
