The Power of Visuals in eLearning Infographic

Why eLearning developers should embrace visuals when creating their courses.

The Power of Visuals in eLearning Infographic presents 4 reasons why eLearning developers should embrace visuals when creating their courses:

1. Visuals stick in long-term memory
   One of the easiest ways to ensure that learners store information in their long-term memory is to pair concepts with meaningful images.
2. Visuals transmit messages faster
   eLearning developers can use this knowledge in their visual designs to their advantage by including well-timed graphics or a sequence graphics to aid instant understanding as well as to reduce explanation time and content.
3. Visuals improve comprehension
   Visuals have been found to improve learning by up to 400 percent. Also, they affect learners on a cognitive level and stimulate imagination, therefore, enabling users to process the information faster.
4. Visual cues trigger emotions
   Visuals cause a faster and stronger reaction than words. They help users engage with the content, and such emotional reactions influence information retention. This is because the visual memory is encoded in the medial temporal lobe of the brain, the same place where emotions are processed.
5. Visuals motivate learners
   Around 40 percent of learners respond better to visual information than text alone. Simply seeing a picture allows users to recreate the experience in their mind. eLearning professionals can benefit from this by telling stories in their courses through entrancing images and compelling videos.

However, incorrect use of visuals can deter learners. When off-topic graphics appear on the screen, such as those used for purely decorative purposes, learners will subconsciously try to figure out the message and reason for the image. eLearning designers should only use images that have a clear value, otherwise they are distractions at best and, at worst, give learners the wrong impression.