Graphics Design
The purpose of this lesson on graphics design is to help you work with other faculty and students to select and create graphics that promote learning in your school. As teachers, we need to be able to communicate content both verbally and visually. Computers serve as powerful tools for visualization of facts, concepts, and processes, but because it is so easy to include graphics in instructional materials now it is critical that teachers understand Rieber’s (1994) first principle of graphics for learning: Graphics can aid learning, do no harm, or distract. Quite often, if not most often, graphics are a distraction from learning. Therefore, they should be used with discretion. This module will help you make good choices about graphic design as used in your classroom and across your curriculum.
Integrating Animations Into Educational Media
The purpose of this module is for you to be able to work with other faculty and with students to select or create animations to promote learning in your school. As a result of working through this lesson you will know the terminology related to computer animations, be able to locate useful animations to support student learning, and be able to create animations for teaching. Once you have selected or created facilitative animations, you will be able to share them with other teachers and with students and publish them to the Web. You will also be able to evaluate animations based on established criteria.