Animation can be a very powerful way to learn. It can be highly engaging just because it is often attempting to mimic the real world… yet it isn’t. Of course, it can be overkill for many learning challenges, or simply not a good fit. So when do we use it?

Animation is a great solution for learning about challenging concepts and ideas that have historically been explained through text alone. Animation can be helpful here in supporting text due to something called the “picture superiority effect.” This is a learning theory that says concepts presented as pictures are encoded into both our verbal and image memory systems. This includes animation. Because of this, concepts are both easier to understand and also more readily become part of our long term memory.

Animations are also useful for explaining things that are in the tangible world but are challenging to photograph or video, or where access to them is difficult. Consider learning about how a piece of equipment works on the inside, or learning the operations of cells in a plant or animal. With animation either of these scenarios can be solved.

At The Farthest Pixel, we have lots of experience developing animations to support concept learning and situated learning. We’d love to work with you to identify the best solution for your learning challenge, and discuss how an animation may be useful. Please give us a call!

Visual design is a very important element in course design. It aids learners to more easily navigate through content and to recognize similar categories of content and therefore create an organized mental order of learning. Graphics are also important in branding a course and a program, adding consistency that creates both an identity and a safe space for learners through developing recognizable elements that assure them they’re in the right place and on the right path. The importance of graphics in course design is often undervalued, but should in fact always be considered.

When looking to graphics and illustrations (as well as photographs) as learning objects, they again play an important role in providing visual recall and aiding in retention of content learned, but just as important can be used to explain difficult concepts otherwise provided only through text. Oftentimes, text falls short of aiding student comprehension, but additionally images (including photographs) leverage something called “the superiority effect” where pictures are known to be retained in our memory as both image and text, so have a higher chance of later recall. Illustrations can be helpful where an object is inaccessible to photograph due to location, scale, or perhaps when you’re trying to convey a concept or idea.