When preparing an instructional presentation two principles to keep in mind are the multimedia and contiguity principles. The multimedia principle states that learning and understanding are enhanced when images and graphics are used together rather than using text alone.
The contiguity principle focuses on the placement of text in relationship to a graphic that helps create meaning for the learners. Integrating both images and graphics encourages learners to engage in active learning. They can mentally organize the materials by making connections between the images and graphics and integrate this new knowledge with their existing knowledge.
In the example below, the contiguity principle is followed because the labels for the parts of the boat are placed physically near the parts of the boat to which they correspond.
Eye-tracking studies have shown that learners tend to read portions of a text and then search for the corresponding graphic. If a large amount of text is presented along with graphics that are separated from the text the learner will experience extraneous mental processing, which means they will use their cognitive resources to try to align the text with the graphic. Simplifying the process for all learners by chunking the text and adding it to the graphic it describes will contribute to meaningful learning.
When I reviewed a PowerPoint presentation I created several years ago there were a couple of areas to make improvements. A few slides had too many words that cluttered the slide. The font size was was also too small on the slide that made the words unreadable from a distance. Although, the graphics I used had the text close by there was just too much information for one slide. Creating several slides to present the material would reduce the clutter and by increasing the font size would help with readability. Making these adjustments would assist the learner to better comprehend the instructional material.
The contiguity principle focuses on the placement of text in relationship to a graphic that helps create meaning for the learners. Integrating both images and graphics encourages learners to engage in active learning. They can mentally organize the materials by making connections between the images and graphics and integrate this new knowledge with their existing knowledge.
In the example below, the contiguity principle is followed because the labels for the parts of the boat are placed physically near the parts of the boat to which they correspond.
Eye-tracking studies have shown that learners tend to read portions of a text and then search for the corresponding graphic. If a large amount of text is presented along with graphics that are separated from the text the learner will experience extraneous mental processing, which means they will use their cognitive resources to try to align the text with the graphic. Simplifying the process for all learners by chunking the text and adding it to the graphic it describes will contribute to meaningful learning.
When I reviewed a PowerPoint presentation I created several years ago there were a couple of areas to make improvements. A few slides had too many words that cluttered the slide. The font size was was also too small on the slide that made the words unreadable from a distance. Although, the graphics I used had the text close by there was just too much information for one slide. Creating several slides to present the material would reduce the clutter and by increasing the font size would help with readability. Making these adjustments would assist the learner to better comprehend the instructional material.