Graphics for Learning: Proven Guidelines for Planning, Designing, and Evaluating Visuals in Training Materials

Chapter 3. How Graphics Influence Learning Processes

CHAPTER OVERVIEW

Graphics are only effective to the extent that they support rather than disrupt psychological events of learning. To lay the groundwork for Section Two, in this chapter we overview the psychological processes that underpin learning. We look at the differences and relationships between the memory siblings: working memory and long-term memory. We then overview the six important instructional events that help learners transform content in the training environment into new knowledge and skills in longterm memory. These six events provide a basis for many recommendations on best design of visuals to be described in the remaining chapters in this section. We conclude with a summary ...