⏱️ The Essentials in 3 Minutes |
🧠 Understanding the Issue: Cognitive Load
The brain has a limited capacity to process information simultaneously. An overloaded, poorly structured, or visually cluttered granule uses up that capacity on form rather than substance. Reducing cognitive load means freeing up more resources for learning itself.
📝 Structure and Text
One granule, one message. Avoid packing too many blocks into a single granule. If you're covering several ideas, spread them across two separate granules.
Bold highlights a key idea, as long as it isn't overused. Too much bold creates visual overload and cancels out the emphasis effect. Avoid underlining, which suggests a clickable link.
Bold highlights a key idea, as long as it isn't overused. Too much bold creates visual overload and cancels out the emphasis effect. Avoid underlining, which suggests a clickable link.
Headings structure content and create information hierarchy. Their size can be adjusted based on importance level.
Headings structure content and create information hierarchy. Their size can be adjusted based on importance level.
Statements draw attention to a strong point or a short title. Reserve them for truly essential information.
Statements draw attention to a strong point or a short title. Reserve them for truly essential information.
Column blocks let you group text + image sets to reduce scrolling and improve readability. If you have several blocks stacked vertically, a column block can make them much easier to read.
Column blocks let you group text + image sets to reduce scrolling and improve readability. If you have several blocks stacked vertically, a column block can make them much easier to read.
💪 Exercises
Standardize answer options. In a multiple-choice question, answers of very different lengths unconsciously steer the learner toward the correct answer. Aim for similar length and density across all options.
Add images to answers. In MCQs, Categorizer, and Ordering exercises, images or pictograms in the answer options make the exercise more concrete and engaging.
Add images to answers. In MCQs, Categorizer, and Ordering exercises, images or pictograms in the answer options make the exercise more concrete and engaging.
Interactive image: limit the number of zones. Beyond 5 to 7 clickable zones, the exercise becomes difficult to read. Select only the most relevant elements.
Interactive image: limit the number of zones. Beyond 5 to 7 clickable zones, the exercise becomes difficult to read. Select only the most relevant elements.
💬 Dialogues
In information granules, keep speech bubbles short. If a text is developed, split it into two lines of dialogue to maintain a good reading pace. Add line breaks to air out the content.
In information granules, keep speech bubbles short. If a text is developed, split it into two lines of dialogue to maintain a good reading pace. Add line breaks to air out the content.
In exercise answers, avoid forcing the learner to connect a dialogue in the scenario to separate text-based answers. Place dialogue choices directly in the answer tiles: it's more direct and less cognitively demanding.
In exercise answers, avoid forcing the learner to connect a dialogue in the scenario to separate text-based answers. Place dialogue choices directly in the answer tiles: it's more direct and less cognitively demanding.
🎨 Colors and Visual Hierarchy
By default, blocks alternate between light and dark backgrounds. You can customize these backgrounds to reinforce visual consistency, for example, a light background for dialogues and a darker one for text + image blocks.
Check that the contrast between text and background remains sufficient, especially with dark themes or vivid colors. The Contrast-Finder tool lets you test your combinations.
If an image contains important information, add a short caption to make it accessible to everyone.
Keywords : granule, instructional design, readability, cognitive load, bold, headings, colors, exercise, dialogue.