Whether the old cliché of younger generations’ inability to focus on text or for long periods of time because their attention spans are so short is true or not, one thing is for certain: Absorbing and retaining information in an eLearning environment demands new methods for presenting traditional subject matter. Staring at a screen for hours on end can cause even the most hyper-focused of us to turn away and lose interest. What this means is that the way to connect with and involve the modern learner – be it for academic, professional, or vocational purposes – is to present material in a visually rousing way. There is no denying that we live in a time of audio-visual stimulation in every area of our lives – not just in entertainment, but information retrieval as well.
Whether you’re an instructor wanting to teach a critical subject like engineering, an HR director looking to train employees on discrimination policy, or a mechanic on the intricacies of rebuilding a transmission, one of the best ways to convey information that will be understood and retained is through visual methods. Experienced eLearning course builders will tell you that using visual elements is the most powerful tool in their arsenal of techniques and components to engage learners while educating and training them.
Of the myriad of visual techniques in eLearning, animation provides the most flexibility because of its ability to deliver engaging eLearning content whether the subject matter consists of complex academic or professional concepts and instructions or learning and retaining straightforward organizational rules and procedures. There is not just one type of animation that can be used when designing an eLearning environment, but some may be better than others depending on the purpose of the course environment and the nature of the learning audience.
Depending on your content, animation serves the purpose of making topics and concepts more accessible to the learner as well as engaging them all while keeping their attention focused. Using animation will allow you to convey conceptual information, hypothetical scenarios, real-world examples, theoretical instruction, and vocational training. Any subject matter presented in animated form affects people on a more expressive level; this ensures greater memory retention and recall.
In a sense what we are talking about here is infotainment: the integration of information and entertainment. Creating engaging animated eLearning content is one of the most important elements that should be included in an overall instruction of the subject matter of a course. Aside from traditional text or direct talking-head video, animation, if done right, will increase learner comprehension and retention.
S4Carlisle is in the business of content creation in all eLearning formats – including animation. It is our well-regarded technical expertise combined with years of experience that allows us to create visually appealing and compelling content for each client’s specific requirements. Of course, skill and visual appeal are not enough, S4Carlisle’s unparalleled customer service means that we work closely with each client, putting their vision into real-time subject matter eLearning content. Using animation all but guarantees to make an impact and allow for seamless integration with other eLearning content as well as evaluation methods. Contact us today!
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