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Assignment: Creating Effective Instructional Images Applying Design Principles & Making Better Photographs

Images & Explanations by Brett Erickson TEAC 860: Producing Instructional Materials Fall 2012/Dr. Al Steckelberg

Part I: Applying Design Principles


Choice of Background
Good Background Choice (left) The white background reduces load, allowing the learner to focus on the six dominos.

Poor Background Choice (below) The black, busy background adds extraneous load, diminishing the effectiveness of the domino grouping.

Use of Color

Poor Use of Color (above) The predominantly green image is contrasted only by the red in the acers, which are not the focus of the image. Good Use of Color (left) The green leaves dominate the image through their color, and the red stems act as arrows back to the leaves themselves.

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Good Contrast (right) In this case, the black background contrasts with the blank, white domino to focus the learner to the domino only. Poor Contrast (below) The white background and the blank domino are too similar in texture and tone.

Figure / Ground and Contrast

Image Size

Poor Image Size (above) The small image size makes distinguishing between the two bison in the foreground difficult, and also fails to help emphasize natural habitat. Good Image Size (left) An image illustrating bison in their natural habitat is best presented large to enhance comprehension.

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Alignment

Good Alignment (left) The alignment of the eight dominoes helps the learner easily count the two groups in order to complete a probability problem.

Poor Alignment (below) The haphazard alignment of the dominos forces the learner to spend needless cognitive energy concentrating on counting.w

Lighting

Poor Lighting (above) The lack of adequate lighting in the rear of the image imposes unnecessary load on a learner during the green apple probability problem. Good Lighting (left) An image illustrating good use of lighting to emphasize both groups of apples.

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Detail & Realism

Good Detail Choice (left) The probability problem (the probability of drawing a black piece from the jar) is clearly illustrated by the simply image.

Poor Detail Choice (below) The added cognitive load of a reality-based image detracts from the learning goals of the probability problem.

Patterns Within the Image

Excessive Patterns Within the Image (above) The patterns of each of the dominoes gives the learner no hint as to the purpose or focal point in the image. Limited Patterns Within the Image (left) When the dominoes are all turned away (white) except for the critical domino, the learner immediately focuses properly.

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Good Portrayal (right) The maple leaf structure and color are the focus of the exercise; natural habitat inclusion is distracting and unnecessary.

Subject Matter

Poor Portrayal (below) The preponderance of acers, leaves and stems makes selection exceedingly difficult, adding unnecessary load to the exercise.

Part II: Making Better Photographs


Figure - Ground

White Balance: Good / Bad

5500 K

2100 K

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Detail Exposure

Detail Parts

Detail Gestalt

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Directing Attention

Perspective

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Clarity

Wide v. Long

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