Creating Graphics for Learning and Performance - Report Example

Creating Graphics For Learning And Performance: Ch. 11 and the Resource section Chapter 11: Focus Question How do I choose colors for instructional purposes? Color refers to the visual quality of an object based on the amount of light emitted or reflected by it. Choosing color for instruction depends on three main principles namely; selection, integration, and organization. The three principles are explained in depth below. Selection The colors to be used must make important information that is to be conveyed stand out. The standing out of the information improves leaner selection. Contrast can be used to help the leaner distinguish between information that is important to the one that is less important. Two color schemes are very important in the perception and visual acuity of the learner. The two schemes divide the color wheel in two halves, which are the warm and cool color and the spectral scheme. Colors that are found in the middle of the color spectra are linked to greater acuity. Warm colors are used to make an element even more noticeable. Organization The color chosen should be able to exhibit a hierarchy of importance. Color can be used to suggest a form of ranking. Color can be used to create layers of information resulting in the creation of hierarchy. The dark to sequence or the dull to bright sequence can be used to demonstrate the increase in significance. Integration Colors that are used should enable the learner to view and the bigger picture. Colors can be combined to form a contribution to the learner seeing the bigger picture. The choice of colors can be dependent on the color wheel. It provides a scheme of colors that tend to work together. One can be able to work with fewer colors effectively. The choice of colors can be based on inspiration from art. Works of art can be inspirational. The choice of colors can be based on color palettes. The color palettes are found in templates. The color schemes used are artist-created. The schemes should be mastered to enable to fully utilize them. The choice of colors may be based on psychological associations. Colors can evoke responses. The responses are emotional in nature. Colors can be used in accordance to the various colors that are associated to the various human emotions. Briefly, one should choose colors that enables learners identify important information easily and quickly by making such information stand out. The colors chosen should also bring out the main theme of whatever information is being displayed. The choice of color should be made with the aim of establishing order or hierarchy in the arrangement of information more so in the order of significance to the learner. Should I base decisions on the psychology of color? Psychology of color refers to the physical and emotional impact that colors have. The notion can also be based on the harmony that is assigned to each different color. The psychological aspects are based on different cultural preferences, gender, and age. For example, bright primary colors are preferred by children. Freshness relates to blue and green. Orange associates excitement. More white colors are considered light. Less white colors are considered heavy. Yes, decisions on the color to be used should be based on the psychology of color. The decision also depends on the age group of learners. Adults have different color preferences and meanings as compared to children. Cultural preferences should also be tabled. Different colors have different meanings to different cultures. Colors considered attractive to women convey a different message to men and vice versa. The targeted learner group will hugely influence the decisions. Colors evoke responses that are emotional. Colors create a warm and inviting feeling to the learners. The invited learner will feel more at ease hence enhancing the whole learning process. A bad combination of colors can result to distraction of the learner. Distraction of the learner inhibits performance of the whole learning process. It is important to bear in mind the correct psychology of colors. The psychology will determine if the learners will be captivated or distracted. Can Color Improve Instruction? Yes, colors can improve instruction. Colors tend to improve the moods. Colors also have symbolic meaning. For example, white can be used to vividly associate with weddings in the western cultures. The same white color can be used to associate with funerals in the eastern cultures. Colors can mean many things. Colors can be used to describe what a thousand words would describe. Colors can be used to label different types of information. For example, a map extensively uses color to represent different features. Ski areas use color label to the difficulty of different colors. Colors can be used to identify measurement and show quantity. Pie chats use different colors to represent different percentages of each respective item. Colors can be used to represent reality. For example, an architect would use colored pencils to help clients to view sections on the blueprint vividly. Color can be used to draw the attention of the learner. Interaction between the learner and the content is promoted. Learners prefer colors hence making learning more effective. Colors help learners to locate information easily and quickly. The quick location increase the usability of materials used for instruction. The effectiveness of the learning process gets boosted by the usage of color. Appeal of the content makes the leaner more captivated to the work presented. Colors can be used to create decorations. People prefer color to black and white. Color creates that attraction that would make a leaner captivated. Colors evoke emotions. What is Depth? Does it have an Instructional Impact? Depth refers to the dimension, scale, and texture. Depth plays a very important role in facilitating selection of information. The three aspects are used to explain the depth in depth. Scale refers to the proportionality of objects. Scale creates complexity that is used to signify depth. Scale is used to make comparisons between objects. Comparisons are used by learners in the assimilation of new information based on what is already stored in the mind. Dimension refers to the shadows used on an image. Many elements use shadowing to stand out. Shadows are used to make objects more vivid. Drop shadows are used to distinguish one object from another. Texture refers to the addition of pattern to an object. The pattern enables the object to stand out from the others. Depth is created by perspective. Perspective is used to liven up objects. Depth has an instructional function. The texture can be used to put perspective into objects. The perspective livens up the object. Scale can be used to increase the proportionality of an object hence making it stand out from the rest. Shadowing in dimensions make objects more vivid to the learner. A lively object stands out from the rest hence enhancing the leaner to see the objects. Three-dimensional tools can be used to increase the depth of objects. Depth provides instructional materials with the texture, dimension, and size. What is White Space? Is it always White? White space is also known as background color. This is a design tool that is often ignored. The ignored space can be used in enhancing instructional visuals. Space can be used to separate the instructional elements that need to be conveyed to the leaner. White space can be used to clarify text. The white space separates letters hence giving them meaning combined or on their own. White space is also used in punctuation. The counter space separates phrases giving them logic reasons. The same space is used to separate chapter from one another. White space has three major instructional benefits. The space increases the reading rate of the learner. A learner easily identifies redundancies in the text. A learner accesses the relevant information and ignores the irrelevant information. A learner is able to carry out abstraction. The structure of the document is vividly seen by the leaner. Space can be used to communicate timing to the learner. Spacing communicates the distance in time when the characters are further apart. Space balances images on a screen. Space enhances the achievement of equilibrium. To work effectively with white space, one must be able to see it though it is considered invisible. The white space must be viewed as an independent visual element on its own. White space is not always white but it represents the space between letters and objects. Object and letters occupy a background. Equilibrium and balancing dictates that the letters and objects should have some distance between them to make the understandable and presentable. The distance between the objects is white space. Chapter 11: Web Activity Different colors red, blues, green, and a lighter shade of green, have been employed in the above visual diagram to try and depict the idea of a window. Color, depth, and white space have been used as well Chapter 11: Challenge Activity This is an instructional image, which utilizes the color to enhance the process of selection for a learner. Different colors have been used and associated with different vowel letters on their own, and when used in a word. For instance, it is very easy for a learner to select the letter I and associated it with the word itch. By just seeing the red color, a learner in this context can easily depict the letter in question is the vowel letter i. Response to the Resources Section The section on resources unlike the other chapters in the book which explains how to design instructional material, it offers an introduction on what tools one can use to actually create an actual design. For instance, an introduction on what software and hardware can be used, their technical jargon and what one needs to know about which software or hardware is suitable for what task, is also explained. It also address some of the common questions designers frequently ask as well provides an explanation of the tables and figures used in the other preceding chapters. One interesting and inspiring part of the resource section that I found appealing is the second part of the resource section, which is about resources for the development of instructional materials. This section offers information referring to understanding of the computers and its peripherals, and information on training resources. The best website containing advice and tools for creating visuals one of the best websites that has information, advice, and tools for creating visual is the Art Business for Artists Website. The URL is, www.squidoo.com It offers information and advice to developed, experienced, and emerging artists concerning both marketing, development, and other relevant issues pertaining to the business of visual and performing art. Reference Lohr, L. L. (2008). Creating Graphics for Learning and Performance: Lessons in Visual Literacy. North Colorado: University of Northern Colorado. Boyle, C. (2001). Color Harmony for the Web: A guide for creating great color scheme on-line. Gloucester, MA: Rockport Publishers. Read More