Redundancy
Sensemaking
Principle in Action
The National Geographic Education Videos uses only keywords alongside graphics and narration to minimize cognitive load on the visual channel. By limiting on-screen text to essential keywords, learners are not required to scan back and forth between detailed text and visuals, which can overwhelm the visual channel. Instead, they focus on the narration and images, with keywords serving as brief visual anchors. This approach reduces mental effort needed to compare spoken and printed text, enhancing comprehension and retention of complex concepts.
National Geographic
Uses only keywords alongside graphics to minimize cognitive load on the visual channel
Uses only keywords alongside graphics to minimize cognitive load on the visual channel
Discuss in your team
Are there any cases in your educational product where learners could potentially be overwhelmed by redundant information in both audio and text formats?
What alternatives can you offer to convey key points without duplicating audio narration in written form?
Principle Definition
People learn better from graphics and narration than from graphics, narration, and printed text. Because (a) the visual channel can become overloaded by having to visually scan between pictures and on-screen text, and (b) because learners expend mental effort in trying to compare the incoming streams of printed and spoken text.
Limitations
Redundancy is acceptable when presenting technical terms, vocabulary, equations, and directions that learners might need to revisit. For example, subtitles are necessary for non-native speakers or language learners.
Redundancy
Sensemaking
Principle Definition
People learn better from graphics and narration than from graphics, narration, and printed text. Because (a) the visual channel can become overloaded by having to visually scan between pictures and on-screen text, and (b) because learners expend mental effort in trying to compare the incoming streams of printed and spoken text.
Limitations
Limitations
Redundancy is acceptable when presenting technical terms, vocabulary, equations, and directions that learners might need to revisit. For example, subtitles are necessary for non-native speakers or language learners.
Principle in Action
National Geographic
The National Geographic Education Videos uses only keywords alongside graphics and narration to minimize cognitive load on the visual channel. By limiting on-screen text to essential keywords, learners are not required to scan back and forth between detailed text and visuals, which can overwhelm the visual channel. Instead, they focus on the narration and images, with keywords serving as brief visual anchors. This approach reduces mental effort needed to compare spoken and printed text, enhancing comprehension and retention of complex concepts.
Uses only keywords alongside graphics to minimize cognitive load on the visual channel
Discuss in your team
Are there any cases in your educational product where learners could potentially be overwhelmed by redundant information in both audio and text formats?
What alternatives can you offer to convey key points without duplicating audio narration in written form?
