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

Part II. Introduction to Section Two: How to Use Visuals to Support Psychological Learning Processes

One of our fundamental premises is that visuals that are effective for learning must promote psychological learning processes and avoid disrupting those processes. In this section we summarize the research that points to visuals that help learners convert lesson content into transferable knowledge and skills in memory. Chapters Four–Nine describe and illustrate visuals that help learners: focus attention to what's important, awaken prior knowledge in memory, avoid overloading working memory, build mental models in long-term memory, transfer new knowledge and skills to the job, and motivate learners to persist in achieving their learning goals. ...