Instructional Design Principles
18
Overview
Redundancy Principle (4:33)
Description
The Redundancy Principle is an instructional principle that occurs when on-screen text and audio narration about a graphic are the same. When adding on-screen text to a narrated image, the user may experience cognitive overload as multiple pieces of information are trying to be processed simultaneously. When experiencing working memory overload, the user may have difficulty learning and understanding the content that is being explored.
Guidelines for Use
Guideline 1 – Explain a visual through audio or text, NOT both
When including a visual within your web-based learning tool or presentation, it is important to keep in mind to explain the visual through audio or text. When we choose one or the other, we limit the chance of the learner experiencing cognitive overload. An example of this guideline can be a discussion. When discussing the image, the presenter has chosen to do so through only audio or narration, therefore preventing the chance for cognitive overload to occur.
Guideline 2 – Do not add on-screen text to narrated graphics
When including a visual within your web-based learning tool or presentation, it is important to keep in mind to not add on-screen text to a narrated graphic. In the case that we add on-screen text to an image already narrated, the user may fail to understand as their working memory may be overloaded. An example of this guideline can include a presentation in which there are multiple images. The presenter should choose between adding on-screen text to the presentation which they can read, or the presenter can choose to explain the visual through a narration. When doing so, the learners will not experience cognitive overload.
Guideline 3 – On-screen text should only be added with graphics and audio in specific situations
When creating a web-based learning tool or a presentation, we should keep in mind specific situation(s) where it may be applicable to add on-screen text to a narrated image. The situation(s) include a presentation where there is no video or image, when there is ample opportunity to process the visual, when the learner must exert greater cognitive effort to comprehend, including English Language Learners and those who have low vocabulary skills, or when a few key words are presented next to the element in the graphic. When doing so, the learners will not experience cognitive overload, and may instead understand the concept in greater detail.
Good Examples of Use
Example 1 – Not all Scientific Studies are created equal
The tool includes a video which was created in mind of the redundancy principle. In the video, the creator decided to use audio to reach its users. The users may have little to no chance of experiencing cognitive overload as there is no need to focus on on-screen text while listening to the audio. In the case that an English Language Learner or a student with poor language skills is viewing the video, they may