We live in a visual world. Images are better captured and processed than text. Visual data is processed 60,000 times faster than text. Information conveyed better by pictures and infographics. It’s easier to remember too. Learners respond to visual information faster than text.
Given an abundance of online courses, it’s crucial for course designers to get their strategy right so that they can claim a slice of the elearning pie. Reaching the right audience with the right information in the right way is the strategy to adopt to stand out in a crowd.
Some interesting figures I found floating around the internet:
- Ninety percent of information that a human brain receives is visual information
- More than sixty percent of people are visual learners.
- Social media users share more of visual content than the other types
- Visual content has a better chance of securing a video rank on the first page of Google than the other types of content
Visual content scores over text in several ways. Some of those are:
- Visuals help learners grasp information more quickly.
- Visuals ensure that information stays in a learner’s memory for a long time. Visuals are easier to recall too.
- Visuals simulate imaginations and motivate learners.
- Visuals simplifys topics with heavy text.
- Visuals are shared more often than text.
However, text scores over visuals in some ways:
- Text loads faster compared to visuals.
- Text is accessible on most devices where visuals fail to load on older devices/browsers and the like.
- Search engine optimization uses keywords to determine results.
Text and visuals are inseparable for a course. So use them well in winning combinations. Use good images to break long paragraphs of text. Balance space usage in such a way that learners stay focused but do not get distracted.
