At last week’s eLearning Network conference I led a practical instructional design session on audio and e-learning. As Bill Miller’s earlier session had covered learner’s emotional states and readiness to learn, it was easy to make the point that audio used well can connect emotionally with learners in a way that screen text can’t reach.
Here’s a lightly edited summary of the group’s top ten tips on using audio.
- Be clear about how you think audio will enhance the learners’ experience
- Avoid repeating the text on the screen verbatim
- Use short clips
- Use the highest sound quality possible
- Consider non-voiceover audio where appropriate e.g. music
- Avoid reading from a script (make it sound more authentic)
- Allow learners to control playback speed
- Respect cultural differences
- Use real people (rather than actors) when appropriate e.g. for expert credibility
- Include an option to turn off the audio
The Cathy Moore reference that I cited was http://blog.cathy-moore.com/2010/09/do-we-really-need-narration/
Feel free to add your own tips below…
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