Relax your e-learning content with a unique tool: Integrate animations! Whether learning characters, simulations or concrete situation scenarios: Create a unique emotional connection to your participants and help to communicate your content even more comprehensibly!
When we hear the word “animation” we immediately think of popular Pixar or Disney films that manage to take us into a foreign world from the very first second thanks to a unique presentation. The great thing is: Animations don’t only inspire in movies! Among other things, they also represent a great e-learning tool that can be used to create a strong emotional connection between the participants. In addition, you can check Animation Singapore for e-learning animations which can animate your participants so that they not only learn something, but are really looking forward to the e-learning course.
In this article, we’ll explain why it’s important to include animation in your e-learning courses and how best to do so.1 Read our six tips and stay up to date!
Distracting as hell
Many e-learning authors shy away from animations because they think that they can distract from their laboriously produced content. But this assumption is completely wrong! The opposite is true: animations make your content humorous and entertaining. In addition to a thoroughly positive e-learning experience, they also increase the level of interactivity.
Microlearning thanks to animations
The use of animations supports microlearning perfectly! This is a learning strategy in which learners learn from individual, compact “learning canapés”. The information is therefore brief and concisely explained. With an animation the learners can create their own “learning canapés”: You can view, pause and rewind the animation. In this way, each participant can record as much information as he wants. They can also set their own learning speed.
Quite apart from the advantages of microlearning, the visual representation of the animation supports the viewer’s understanding. Contexts can be processed more easily and, if necessary, imitated.
Six valuable tips for the use of animations in e-learning
Create the right emotional atmosphere
The use of animations is closely linked to the emotional perception of the audience. Therefore, make sure that the emotional atmosphere you create in your animation also fits to the presented topic! Not only the design of the animation is important. Also pay attention to the sound you strike, the background music, sound effects and the formulation of your e-learning script.
Peace & focus
Animations can easily be confusing and overloaded. If this is the case, your participants will find it extremely difficult to achieve your actual learning goals with animation. Therefore, it is important that you only refer to one character or theme during an animation.
Avoid unnecessary details and try to distract as little as possible from the actual content. It is also a good idea to make the animation surface as simple as possible. Do not distract with unnecessary graphics or moving pictures.
Active, not passive
Animations that “just” have to be watched seem quite passive. The viewer can lean back and thus has a good opportunity to switch off. Try to integrate interactive elements into your animations.
For example, if you ask between questions, let the participants click on certain objects so that the animation continues. The point is to give the participant some control over the e-learning content. In addition, you reduce the possibility that your user is bored or not concentrated.
Listen up!
Animations have many advantages, but these benefits are limited if you do not add an audio track to your animations. The use of background music, sound effects and narratives creates a unique emotional ambience and strongly supports the concentration of the individual.
In addition, narratives can help to make the content presented or a particular situation easy to understand. Remember, however, to also offer the soundtrack as a subtitle. This will prevent your participants from missing anything due to language barriers or acoustic problems! In addition, the learning is delivered to you in two ways: visually and audibly – so the use of animations already supports two types of learners!
Quite simple
Thanks to your use of animations, you have found a great way to simplify complex issues and present them in a way that is easy to understand. There are no limits to your use and the design of your animation!
Break
Give your participants the opportunity to pause, rewind or fast-forward your animation. Not every user has enough time to work through an animation at a given time. Therefore, you should also make it possible for an animation to start and continue later.
To avoid confusion, you should provide detailed instructions on how to use your control buttons. This way, your participants will immediately know how to use your animation.
As you can see, animations are a great opportunity for your e-learning content. Just follow our six simple tricks and there are no limits to your design! Animate e.g. e-learning characters that accompany learners through the content, simulations or cross-theme scenarios.
