In the previous semester, I explored the advantages and disadvantages of static and dynamic instructions to optimize user understanding. Animated instructions were found to excel in teaching motor skills, offering users control over the pace of instruction and aiding in step-by-step comprehension. However, they may be less effective for highly complex topics and could lead to cognitive overload if not properly segmented. On the other hand, illustrated instructions shine in conveying detailed information for complex subjects and meet the needs of varied learning preferences. They are preferred in scenarios where physical manuals are necessary.
This semester, I’m shifting towards experimentation. I’ll be conducting small-scale experiments to delve deeper into the effectiveness of both instructional methods. Looking back, my discussions about static versus dynamic instructions gave me lots to think about. I learned about how our brains process information and how visuals can help or hinder that process. Now, it’s time to put some of those ideas to the test.
What is planned?
One idea is to compare illustrated instructions with animated ones. I could see myself for example designing instructions on how to fold origami. I could create both types of instructions and see which one works better. Here I would like to focus on quality research instead of quantitative research because it will be hard to find enough participants to have a significant outcome. So the plan is to find a few people to test these instructions on and maybe have a little interview or questionnaire afterwards to find potential struggle points or if they preferred pictures or animations. These conversations can give me deeper insights into how people interact with instructional materials.
Another idea is to analyze existing experiments about the topic of illustrated vs animated illustration. There is a lot of research out there already and I can learn from what’s been done before. By taking a deeper look into these studies I can pick up some tips to make my own experiments better and maybe compare some outcomes.
In summary, this semester is all about starting to experiment and seeing what works in instructional design. By keeping things simple and focusing on quality, I am sure I will be able to uncover some interesting insights in the field of instructional design.
