Category: 6200

Reflection Topic: Reflect on this course. What are some research takeaways? Practical takeaways? How can train others on message design? This should be a 5-6 paragraph on findings and things you learned during this course. 

This course on message design in learning technologies proved to be quite challenging for me, especially given the workload compressed into an abbreviated summer semester. Throughout the course, I often felt overwhelmed, struggling to keep up and feeling like I was barely treading water, let alone finding time for meaningful reflection. Even though it was challenging, I kept going, and looking back, I can appreciate the valuable takeaways and useful knowledge that I acquired.

One of the most significant research takeaways for me was the simple realization that there is an entire discipline called “Message Design.” Having completed my undergrad in Communications with a focus on Advertising two decades ago and worked extensively in Marketing, which involved graphic design and digital messaging, I was surprised that I had never come across this field before. It was exciting to incorporate theory and research into the methods I had been using for years, giving my work a higher level of insight and foundation to build upon.

I would find it difficult to consider fostering creativity in those who may not naturally regard themselves as creative. Message design appears to create guidance toward the development of a non-creative, but there is still so much that is unteachable. While I believe some people have an innate creative inclination, I also recognize the value of theory and structured practices in fostering creativity and enhancing message design skills. Creativity is such an abstract concept, and true design is valued by the viewer; Can we truly teach creativity, which is a strong element of Message Design?

I appreciated the online book that was chosen for this course. There were many elements that I am familiar with as a former instructional designer, and they were combined with elements I used during my experience in marketing and as a graphic designer. I felt that the book was a helpful blend of instructional design resources, creative guidelines, theory, and research. The course book’s selection played a key role in defining design ideas inside an educational framework and giving them a theoretical foundation. I plan to share this resource with some of my colleagues who have struggled with developing creative projects and could truly benefit from the book’s insights. I have also bookmarked this book to refer back to later, as there were other topics that we did not get a chance to review in class that I’d like to read at a later date; topics such as designing simulations, zoom conferencing, MOOCs, etc. which were discussed in Volume 2 of this online resource.

Yet, despite the difficulty and time constraints of the course, I have developed a greater understanding of the term Message Design and its role in education. I plan to apply this newfound knowledge and theories in my future work, creating effective and engaging instructional materials that are grounded on theoretical best practices. While the journey was challenging, and the workload a bit overwhelming, I’ve gained new knowledge and theories that will be beneficial in my future research and projects.

Prompt: Reflect on all the learning theories that you have learned in the course so far. Identify 5 components that you can incorporate in teaching and learning. How could these components help learners? Discuss what you have learned so far in this course. What are the take-aways and what would you like to learn more? This reflection should be around 4-5 paragraphs.

Response:

Many of the components that have been discussed in this course directly relate to teaching and learning efforts. Upon reflection, the top five elements that would directly relate to the development of eLearning modules include user research and user-centered design, the chunking or segmenting of the content process, the application of responsive design principles, the creation of obvious navigation and hierarchy structures, and the use of visual design strategies intended to lessen the unneeded cognitive load. Online learning is more commonplace in today’s digital age, warranting the integration of efficient web design ideas into educational systems.

User Research and User-Centered Design

Understanding the requirements, interests, and objectives of learners is very important for user research in effective user-centered design. Educational platforms can obtain important information to guide the design process by performing surveys, interviews, and usability tests. By using a user-centered design strategy, learning experiences are customized to each individual learner’s needs. Engagement may be increased and a good learning environment can be fostered by using user-centric interfaces, simple navigational systems, and tailored information.

Chunking or Segmenting of the Content Process

According to cognitive load theory, it is important to divide up complicated material into more manageable portions. Learners can receive and remember information more efficiently by receiving content in manageable chunks. This idea can be utilized by online platforms by organizing lessons, modules, or themes in a way that encourages step-by-step learning. Chunking also enables students to concentrate on a single idea at a time, lowering cognitive load and improving understanding.

Responsive Design

Due to the popularity of numerous devices, including desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones, it is essential to use responsive design to meet the varied needs of students. Educational platforms can maximize viewing experiences across various screen sizes and devices by using a responsive design strategy. With this flexibility, learners can access the content at any time and from any location, increasing accessibility and encouraging lifelong learning.

Navigation and Hierarchy Structures

For seamless learning experiences, navigation systems must be clear and simple. The educational platform’s parts and modules should be simple for students to locate and access. The use of descriptive labels, hierarchical menus, and breadcrumbs makes it simple for learners to traverse the materials. Furthermore, creating a logical hierarchy of information using visual signals like size, color, and contrast aids learners in prioritizing and comprehending important ideas.

Visual Design Strategies

The notion of multimedia learning places a strong emphasis on the value of visual design in lowering unneeded cognitive burdens. Online platforms can improve comprehension and engagement by properly utilizing visual components. It is important to pay attention to how whitespace, images, typography, and color schemes are used. Visuals that are well-designed can assist the learning and retention of learners by helping to communicate complicated topics. Optimizing readability also eases cognitive load and encourages efficient learning by using the right font sizes and spacing.

Overall, student learning can be greatly improved by incorporating web design ideas developed from numerous theories. Educational platforms can produce tailored and interesting settings by doing user research, using a user-centered design strategy, and chunking content. Furthermore, learners can easily navigate through the contents while keeping focus and comprehension by leveraging responsive design, assuring straightforward navigation, and creating aesthetically appealing designs that lower cognitive load. We can design online learning experiences that are efficient, available, and optimized for student achievement in the digital age by incorporating these elements.

To expand upon these learning theories, I believe learning more about color theories, font choice, and eye movement would also be relevant to this course.