Are you struggling to choose the right images for the e courses that you are creating? Some people may think that any image should do – as long as it looks good.
Well, it is not as simple as that. It is true that putting images in your course will make it appealing. After all, this digital generation is effectively stimulated by great graphics. However, you have to remember that everything that you will place in your course should have a purpose. Images, among the other elements that you can place in your course, may be simple, but it can also be relied on to convey a powerful message.
Choosing the right image for your course should not be taken lightly. If you do it correctly, it can add value to your content. You just have to understand the purpose of the images in the course.
Here are 5 tips that will guide you as you select the right graphics for your e courses.
- Make sure the images are relevant to the current content. Relevance is the first concern that you should have. No matter how beautiful the image is, if it is not relevant to the content, then it would serve no purpose other than to be a break to what would have been a boring text. Providing aesthetic appeal, while important, is not enough. Not only should the image be relevant to the course, in general, it should be relevant to the content in the particular slide or page where it is shown. You should also avoid using just about any image. If you cannot find a relevant graphic, you may want to create your own instead.
- Too many graphics can be unappealing. Although images can add aesthetic appeal, you need to use them smartly. That being said, you should opt for quality over quantity. Limit the image depending on the text. If you want, you can use one image for every keyword or highlighted text. Not only that, use images that have a high resolution so the beauty of the image will show through the screen of your e courses. If anything, it will increase the sophistication of your course.
- Use images to engage and not to distract. If you learn to use images well, it will help engage the participants in your e courses. If not, it might just be a distraction that will lessen the retention rate in your course. For instance, an image that is too big or too bright might distract the learners from the text that they should be remembering. By choosing the right image, you can help associate it with the content and thus help learners remember the lesson.
- Think about the learners when choosing a photo. If the e courses are meant for young students, you should stay away from provocative or controversial photos. Women wearing skimpy outfits may not be appropriate for preschoolers. The images that you should select must be something that they can relate to. For instance, if the course is meant for employees, using images with people wearing professional suits is preferable than using photos of people wearing casual clothing.
- Allow the images to enhance the learning experience. Apart from the aesthetic appeal and being relevant to the course, images can also enhance the learning experience. If you have difficult concepts to discuss, you may want to use images to break down the content. An image can sometimes explain a concept much better than a thousand words. You can also use images to improve the navigation within the course. Simple arrows can help point learners to the next phase of the lesson.
With all the available images online, following these tips should help you narrow down your choices for your e courses.
Image courtesy of nokhoog_buchachon for FreeDigitalPhotos.net