Eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables is excellent for our health. We load up our cart with beautiful produce and know we are well on our way to our best selves. Unfortunately, that perfect-looking avocado holds a secret. Although it seems lovely on the outside, the inside is mushy and brown because you waited a day (or an hour) too long to consume it. The same concept applies to eLearning programs that employ graphic design without effective instructional design. It looks pretty on the outside but does nothing to help on the inside.
A compelling learning journey requires a combination of several essential factors. Engaging instructional design is crucial to success, and carefully crafted activities enable learners to meet their instructional goals. Visual design is another crucial factor. Using attractive graphics that keep a learner’s attention will likely improve the enjoyment of the learning and increase the likelihood of meeting objectives. When you combine both, you have the potential for authentic learning.
To create a learning event that features the best of both worlds, follow these steps:
Once you establish the focus of the content, visual designers can use their skills to decide the best way to present the information to be learned. Using a storyboard or initial sketches of graphic design ideas can give you a better feel for the final product and ensure your objectives will be met before too much work is completed. The worst-case scenario is a design filled with random, irrelevant fluff that does nothing to make the content stick. While the goal is visually appealing, the presentation must also move the learning towards a specific purpose. For instance, say your goal is to introduce a new software program.
However, your first screen contains an overabundance of graphics without indicating the program’s purpose or title. In this case, your visual design does more harm than good because the visuals do not lead the user to your objective. The graphic design should enhance the learning, not distract from it. An organized plan that matches content to visual design is the best way to create an effective instructional program.
Communication is essential to stay on the same page if you are working with a team. Show the work to different people. Different eyes will give you feedback with different perspectives. As you wrap up the design and content elements and get ready to launch your finished product, take time to critique your work and your team’s work. Consider using a rubric to keep personal preferences from obscuring your judgment. Does the design invite the user to engage, or does it cause a distraction? Should the content be adjusted so that chunked information maximizes effectiveness? Are you proud of the final product, and does it represent your instructional goals? These are great questions to ask yourself as you put the final touches on your program. If something isn’t working, be flexible enough to make the necessary changes.
Unlike the imposter avocado situation, you can make the outside match the inside of your instructional program. Following the basic steps can produce engaging, effective learning. Understanding your goals, learners’ needs, content, and design capabilities will pave the way to a successful learning journey.
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