Monday, August 9, 2004

Designing Effective Graphics For e-Learning Programs

Topics this issue:
1. Designing Effective Graphics For e-Learning Programs
2. Featured Slideshow:
“Multimedia”
3. Converting Content is Tough: It is tougher than software development

1. Designing Effective Graphics For e-Learning Programs
Many trainers and designers copy free canned graphics, and slap them into e-learning programs. It’s the easy way—but it rarely works. To make graphics function for you and help elearners grasp your points:

  • Think before you design
    Clarify the ideas you want to burn in with your graphics. It is impossible to create an effectively communicative image based on a fuzzy concept.
  • Create images that illustrate your message and story
    Without an exciting concept or engaging story, you cannot design an engaging image. So work on expressing your ideas through stories, events, characters, and situations. Then illustrate them with graphics. Unfortunately, too often e-learning programs are void of stories and are largely factual. Consequently, images are uninteresting.
  • Respect graphics professionals
    Professional visual artists almost always produce better graphics than amateurs. Do it yourself, or on the cheap, and your images predictably will fall short of the impact they could add to your e-learning program.
  • Test effectiveness
    Finally, how would you know if an image delivers the results? When the
    learner gets the idea by merely viewing the image without reading the
    content - then, and only then can you say that your image is effective.

2. Featured Slideshow: “Multimedia”
This slideshow will show you that the right combination of multimedia and graphics can enrich the learning experience of your learners.

To see more slideshows, please register and preview the Slideshow Gallery.
Visit
http://www.vignettestraining.com/galleries/trainers/preview/trainers_prev.htm

3. Converting Content is Tough: It is tougher than software development
In the Blended e-Learning Workshop you will learn how to choose and mix the right media to enliven your e-learning content.To check schedules of the Blended e-Learning Workshop in your area, please click here http://www.vignettestraining.com/workshops/index.htm


Ray Jimenez, PhD www.vignettestraining.com
"Helping Learners Learn Their Way"