Contiguity Principle
Overview
The Contiguity Principle ensures that all corresponding graphics and texts are placed near each other. The reason this principle is relevant to consider when creating e-learning modules, is because creating a mental connection to words and pictures allows for meaningful learning. People learn best by trying to make sense of information which comes most natural when putting together relations between words and pictures.
The Contiguity Principle ensures that all corresponding graphics and texts are placed near each other. The reason this principle is relevant to consider when creating e-learning modules, is because creating a mental connection to words and pictures allows for meaningful learning. People learn best by trying to make sense of information which comes most natural when putting together relations between words and pictures.
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Guidelines for Use
Guideline 1 - Pop-Up Windows
Guideline 1 - Pop-Up Windows
- Ensure all questions and their corresponding answers are displayed on the same page.
- Avoid using multiple tabs, and instead use linked windows so readers are able to see the answers to posing questions without having to scroll over various pages and tabs.
- The use of animations can be very beneficial for e-learning users because it does a great job in providing users a visual representation of the context
- Display text and animations together
- The use of a "Play" button is helpful because text is still present and visible while the animation is playing
- Having too much text can be very overwhelming and less visually appealing for users
- The use of the Roll Over or Mouse-Over effect provides the same information because it is displayed in a pop-up type message when the cursor is hovering over the corresponding graphics.
Good Examples of Use
Example 1- Contiguity Principle in VisAnantomyLite
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/visual-anatomy-lite/id523422151?mt=8
Example 1- Contiguity Principle in VisAnantomyLite
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/visual-anatomy-lite/id523422151?mt=8
- This app uses 3D diagrams of the different parts of the body and when you click a certain area on the diagram it will have the correct term
- This is a great example of The Contiguity Principle as it displays both images and text and ensures the corresponding words are connected to the images
Helpful Resource
Resource 1 - Do's and Dont's of The Contiguity Principle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42Qk0gfUFjY
sites.google.com/site/cognitivetheorymmlearning/contiguity-principle
Resource 1 - Do's and Dont's of The Contiguity Principle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42Qk0gfUFjY
- This resource does a great job in indicating the simple Do's and Don'ts of The Contiguity Principle
- This resource displays a visual representation of exactly what should be done to implement The Contiguity Principle when creating an e-learning module
sites.google.com/site/cognitivetheorymmlearning/contiguity-principle
- This resource clearly shows how to incorporate diagrams on e-learning modules
- When looking at the two images of the brains; one of them uses letters to match the part of the brain to the correct term; this is not a good example of The Contiguity Principle because it does not have the text directly beside the image
- The image of the brain with the connecting lines from the image to the term is a good example as to how to use a diagram on your e-learning module
Research
Clark, R. C., & Mayer, R. E. (2016). E-Learning and the science of instruction: Proven guidelines for consumers and designers of multimedia learning.
Clark, R. C., & Mayer, R. E. (2016). E-Learning and the science of instruction: Proven guidelines for consumers and designers of multimedia learning.