eLearning Design: Feedback Windows
Posted: 07.18.2012 Filed under: eLearning, Graphic Design, Instructional Design | Tags: Design, eLearning, Feedback, Graphic Design, Instructional design 7 Comments »When you design e-learning courses you often have to incorporate pop-up style feedback windows into your layouts. Feedback windows are used in e-learning for a few reasons, the main ones being: 1) To provide correct and incorrect feedback information, and 2) to provide tips, hints or additional information for the learners.
I am sharing a few examples of feedback “designs” that I developed in Adobe Captivate 5.5. I started out with a basic slide with some information, and then I overlayed a rectangle shape with a 75% opacity over top of the entire slide to add that faded background effect. I really like using this “faded background” effect for feedback pop-up windows; it’s a simple way to keep a strong visual connection between the feedback and the content you are providing the feedback for. I also like using rounded rectangles instead of hard corners because I think it softens the overall look. One more thing: I like using “fun” fonts for headings, and simpler, sans-serif fonts for body text.
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I love the look of these and use this light box effect all the time. They’re really easy to use and I think a great approach! Thanks for sharing!
Great example of how a single layout can be re-themed for multiple styles and topics.
Big fan of the lightbox look in courses and web design. Use it a lot.
Excellent tips and simple to apply, a friend and coworker shared this post and I am glad he did. Thanks
Thanks for sharing these samples, Nicole. One thing that I found in my previous job (and something I picked up from Connie Malamed (@elearningcoach) is that time can be well-spent in the planning process by defining what different types of feedback could look like. e.g. You develop a basic structure for feedback as whole, then subtle changes to provide each type (affirmation, correction, informational, etc.) its own identity. By doing so, you begin to promote some “visual literacy”, meaning that the learner will subconsciously begin to process these visual cues and improve their interpretation of the content. When this principle is applied to a large library of content, it makes a big difference in helping the learner manage their cognitive load. Think of it as a mechanism for branding the content to promote interpretation and understanding.
That is such a good point! As a matter of fact, I did just that in my e-learning course I’m currently designging for Langevin. When it’s main course content being presented, the visible accent colour is blue, when it’s case study information being presented the accent colour is green, when it’s worksheets the accent colour is purple, samples are orange, etc, etc. So each different section or “type” of content is associated with its own colour. It’s very subtle and might not even be consciously noticed by the learners, but subconsciously it will help them organize and sort the content. Awesome point!!
It does follow that this visual effect can be used in other types of presentations as well. Thanks for sharing.