Computer and pencils on a desk
Reduce distractions



Illustration

Watch these short movies, then read the notes below.
What point, in the notes, do these movies illustrate?





Notes

Reduce distractions:

  • Exclude irrelevant items
  • Use a picture with either written, or spoken (preferably) text, not both
  • Place corresponding words and pictures close together
  • Use pictures and associated text simultaneously

Why?

  • Learning happens in working memory, which has a very small capacity. Overloading working memory demotivates a learner.
  • Working memory has two channels, one for images, and the other for words (spoken and written). The load experienced in each channel is separate, so e.g. if no images are used, that available space is simply wasted, it can’t be reassigned to cope with an overload in text.

Examples

Activity

  1. Click each slide in this Padlet (click here), below, to see it more clearly.
  2. Rate each slide from 5 stars (excellent) to 1 star (very bad).
  3. In the comments section for each slide, list:
    • things which make the slide distracting
    • ways to improve the slide
    • things you like about the slide.
    • If you appear anonymously in the Padlet, please add your name.
    • Optional: Upload a picture of a slide that you have made so that people can comment on your slide.






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