Animation is another medium that you can incorporate into your online courses. It is important for you to consider using animations as a part of the instructional strategy since animations can significantly enhance learning, motivation, and attitudes as well as reduce the time needed for learning.
Animation means “to give life to” something. Animations, which are a series of visuals that change over time, are like video sequences except that animations are created with a computer, other tools, or manually rather than by filming real objects in motion. For this reason, a video can be easier to make than an animation.
You can effectively use animations for:
- showing relationships between objects and ideas
- For example, animations can illustrate pressure changes in a pressure regulation system or how mechanical systems work.
- simulating the results of actions
- As an example, animations can show the effects of drug dosage on heart rates.
- showing sequential steps in a procedural task
- For example, animations can be used to explain how to adjust a camera.
- explaining difficult concepts
- As an example, you can use animations to illustrate how the body responds to changes in oxygen demand.
- making abstract concepts concrete
- For example, animations can show how electrons move in orbits around the nucleus of atoms or how information flows in an electronic system.
- This is important since some learners have difficulty learning from abstract sources such as text, numbers, and symbols.
With respect to learning, you can use animations to:
- enhance performance and retention
- Note that learning generally requires cues and guidance to specifically direct a student’s attention to the pertinent point. This is particularly important for younger and immature students.
- Ensure that students are not presented with more information than they can handle.
- In general, animations with text are more effective than visuals with text. This is especially true when the concept involves directional characteristics or changes over time. In these situations, animations can help simplify an abstract idea into a concrete idea.
- reduce the time needed for learning
- gain attention and improve student attitudes
- This is partly due to animations simply adding variety to the presented content.
Keeping The Message of Your Animation Clear
To keep the message clear, your animations:
- should be self-explanatory, as a guideline
- Students do not necessarily know how to interpret animations. The ease of interpretation can depend on their age and maturity. Evaluate your animations with target audience students.
- You can help make the animation clear by providing supporting text and/or labels. Alternatively, focus the student’s thoughts on the pertinent information.
- If it is not self-explanatory, consider redesigning the animation.
- must match the learning outcomes
- Some animations have been used to impress rather than teach.
- should be set up to allow learners to control when they see the animation
- Students should be able to repeat animations since it is easy to miss significant points during minor distractions.
Note
Self-explanatory animations illustrate the message.
Displaying Animations
You should only display animations when the learner is ready to view them. Students can do this by clicking an “Animate” button when they are ready. Before showing the animation, provide guidance to ensure that the students will focus on the important point!
Note
Animations should only begin when the learner is ready to view them.
Your animation will appear more realistic if the object’s speed, size, and relative motion are accurate. Base the animation’s speed on real time rather than the computer’s speed. Otherwise, due to a wide variation in computer speeds, animations may run at different speeds on different hardware configurations.
You can make animations appear three-dimensional.
- Use 3D for realistic effects.
- 3D animations can be more powerful than 2D animations, especially if the learner can view the animation from different perspectives such as front, side, and top views. For example, this can be useful for training students to repair equipment.
