Learning Entry Blog 1 - Designing Instructional Media

When designing instructional media there is a simple acronym to use to design an effective project or presentation - CRAP. CRAP stands for Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity. If you are typing something you want to make sure that the text is a color that is clearly visible on the background and doesn't distract the reader too much. Making sure that you repeat the same format is very important. Changing the font of each and every sentence may look pretty but it will make it harder for the reader to follow along. Alignment means that you need to make sure that everything is set up evenly. Similar to repetition, if your alignment is off important information can be over looked. And finally, Proximity means that things aren't spread out too far or bunched in too close to each other. Otherwise, it can be hard to follow what you presentation is showing and it's message will be lost.

Since I am a biology major on the premed track I don't really see myself needing to use this too much in the future. I want to be a doctor and don't really plan on teaching much. However, if I had to give a speech or a presentation sometime in the future this would definitely be useful. If I am giving a lecture to a large audience, using the CRAP method would help get my message across effectively and efficiently.

Here's a link from Florida Gulf Coast University. It has a lot of good information and is organised in a very clear way to make it easy to find what you are looking for.

Here's a small blurb on how copyright laws might be going a little bit too far.