Tips for Using Photos in Online Courses

Using images help us remember and inspire us in ways text can’t. We learn better through images than with text because the brain process images 60,000 times faster than text.

The key is using the correct image related to your content. Choosing the right image can be difficult given the vast number of images available on the internet. Read the tips below to make sure the images used support the course content and engage the learners.

COPYRIGHT

Always respect copyright laws! It’s the most important check when finding images for your courses.

USE RELEVANT IMAGES

Know your audience before selecting images for your course. Be culturally sensitive and respectful as well.

USE IMAGES TO REPLACE TEXT

Your images should help learnersunderstand the lesson/objective in a way that it is easy to understand and remember.

USE THE RULE OF THIRDS

Split the screen into thirds as our eyes gravitate from top to bottom then left to right on the screen so it makes sense to place image(s) on this path. Placing images on this path can guide learners to the most important areas of the lesson and minimize wandering off.

CROP IMAGES

Learners consume a large amount of information throughout their day so it’s best to crop out anything that is not necessary so they focus on what is important.

Using photos for your online courses is a great way to enhance your online courses, but it’s also not as simple as inserting a photograph on every section. Keep the tips above in mind when selecting images and deciding where to place images in the content and this will help your learners grasp the learning materials in a way that is easy to understand and remember.

Tags:
,