The Progressive Reveal
I like to provide learners with progressive revelations. This instructional strategy involves slowly revealing information, especially visual information.
I like to start with one part of a visual concept and then build on it. I show one part of a diagram and then slowly complete it. For example, picture a simple hierarchical diagram where only the box at the top is visible. Then as you discuss, you show the next row of boxes, discuss some more and show the next and so on. This can work well interactively too, where the learner reveals the diagram through certain actions.
It’s Good for Working Memory
Why is this a good way to present information? Because working memory, the online portion of our brain, is limited in capacity. Most people just can’t hold too much more than around four bits of information in working memory at one time. I know they used to say it was seven bits of information, plus or minus two. But the number seems to be shrinking.
By progressively building on a previous concept or rule or principle, we give learners time to retrieve information from long-term storage, so they can comprehend the initial information. Once the initial information is firmly understood, there’s a much better chance they will comprehend the next bit of information than if we sped ahead from the start.
It’s Good for Encoding Information
A progressive build is also a good way to help learners encode information into long-term memory. When a learner holds information associated with the instruction in working memory, it helps the instruction make sense and gives it meaning. When information is meaningful, it’s connected to one’s personal network of knowledge. Well-connected information is more likely to get encoded “deeply” into long-term memory.
A Simple Approach
Sometimes I’ll use the most basic approach to create a progressive revelation, without even creating a Flash animation. Using one of the PowerPoint based authoring tools, I just place a rectangle over a portion of the graphic that I want to progressively reveal. The rectangle is the same color as the background. Over time or over several screens, whichever works best for the learning situation, I’ll slowly move the rectangle away so that it progressively reveals the visual beneath. What could be easier? I don’t want everyone to know how easy it is to do this, so I’m just telling you.
Apart from the benefits discussed above, progressive revelation encourages curiosity that stimulates mind to learn more effectively.
[Reply]
Connie Malamed Reply:
August 12th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Excellent point. And curiosity is motivating. Thanks, Ajay.
[Reply]
Thanks for the top tip on Rectangle Reveal….and your humour.
I too am a memebr of the temple. Prefering visual and kinesthetic modes means where information is ‘placed’ is a very important part of the learning process for me.
I’ve found success in getting across a model with different stages by ‘assigning’ a place on the screen for each of the stages, and revealing each stage rather like a visual climbing of stairs.
The model has unique (and not cognitively transparent) terminology associated with each stage so the visual ladder climbing helps to show progression without getting too tied up with the terminology. I introduce the model with a walked through example of a task that’s much more familiar and I use the same visual placeholders for each stage so that when the model is introduced, learners already have a way of organising the information to make it more digestible.
[Reply]
Hi Tameron,
This sounds interesting and would like to hear/see more about you approach. If you can, email me through the contact form. Maybe you can share it in more detail with readers.
Best,
Connie
[Reply]