Online elearning similar to any other educational experience is said to be dependent upon instructional design since fabulously designed courses comprising of a complete set of necessary elements will be required. This is to ensure proper and thorough learning. It will also assure communication of vital information to aspiring learners. A thorough instructional design process is one which ensures a quality of the only ecourse. This is achieved by identifying knowledge, skills, attitude gaps and information. Such gaps get closed with the development of learning experiences which are based upon elearning best practices.
Things to note
A crucial aspect of elearning is how well the course is being perceived upon by target audiences. This is because it is perception which determines clearly the amount of understanding the contents. Sensory stimulation will be necessary for people to perceive. In such learning type, visual stimulation is considered to be critically important. Moreover, visual elements like videos, pictures, graphics and texts, etc. are depended upon heavily by elearning. The professionals make available the best e learning development tools to ensure better course development.
People, however, explain often that visual channel pertaining to such courses through visual hierarchy can easily transit secondary messages to communicate the visual elements’ relative importance in the course. The latter guides learners to pay more attention to the visual elements used ranging from high ranks to lesser ranked ones. The standard hierarchy comes with three important levels that are secondary, primary and equivalent. But still, it might vary.
Benefits
Ensuring that the elements are laid out in the pecking order is sure to eliminate lots of stress that are otherwise related to the cluttered screen. If graphics are found to be scattered everywhere, then learners are likely to have a tough time, which will inhibit learning. Hierarchy is used to deliver information to the audience since it emphasizes the main concepts and ideas. The screen, in other words, not having visual hierarchy will be found to have little importance, in case, no emphasis is laid upon. Emphasis can help to reinforce information absorption.
This can be implemented in instructional design in different ways within elearning course. Designers generally opt for e learning content development tool and different approaches to ensure optimum impact.
Ways to establish a visual hierarchy
- Color: Bright colors can be used with contrast in design, to attract more attention, when compared to darker ones. This is crucial for establishing a hierarchy to make the higher ranking elements to become more vivid, while darker the less ranking types.
- Size: Probably, it is the compelling way towards depicting hierarchy on screen. Different ways are present by which this can be used effectively. For instance, creating larger page title or relevant video to encompass a majority of the screen.
- Position: It is used commonly to represent progression. For example, standard newspaper position. Here the paper top portion has the hottest stories since it attracts more attention when compared to the bottom.
- Imagery: Graphics and images appearing on screen first are focused upon mainly and then to other elements like text. The certain control level can be gained as it depends upon page treatment and design or the entire course.
Therefore, the above are the ways by which visual hierarchy can be established on the web.
