How Visuals Can Improve Learning
We have all adapted to the flood of information we deal with each day by finding shortcuts. One shortcut is to read less and scan more. Instructional designers know we scan, so they use highlighted text, bullets, and other elements that stand out in learning materials, hoping we'll pause and read these texts.
There's a better way. Replacing text-heavy content with well-designed visuals accomplishes the following:
- Can help summarize complicated information
- Can reveal relationships that might otherwise be hidden
- Can lead to increased engagement, retention, and recall
- Can provide a framework for organizing, planning, and studying information
- Can record meeting information in a quickly digestible and easy-to-recall format
Co-written by VizThink CEO Tom
Crawford and Brandon Hall Research Analyst Tom
Werner, Visualization in Learning: 14
Case Studies That Emphasize Visual Thinking explores
the use of visualization in the following areas:
This report contains 14 case studies of how visualization is being used in learning situations. Each case study describes the following:
- The topic and learning situation
- How the visual is emphasized
- The types of visual tools used (i.e., photographs, sketches, panoramas, movies, 3-D, etc.)
- The evidence that this visual approach is effective
This report contains dozens of images showing how visualization techniques can be used to improve learning.
A graphic recording of a training session from the Department of Veterans Affairs
Regardless of which part of the learning design and delivery process you’re trying to improve, a visualization technique exists that can make the process more efficient, engaging, and effective.
This report is also available through
a membership to the Brandon
Hall Research Library. |
