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Transitional Movement: Value-Adding Animation Design
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Transitional Movement: Value-Adding Animation Design

Margaret Turner
International Journal of Learning, Vol.14(4), pp.183-192
2007
url
https://doi.org/10.18848/1447-9494/CGP/v14i04/58609View
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Abstract

Library and Information Studies Specialist Studies in Education transitional movement movement design online learning
It seems natural to use the power of animated movement to enhance online learning resources because movement between elements of conceptual content between nodes of data separated in space is a major characteristic of an electronic networked environment. But does animation, as in moving images, really assist learning, or does it distract? Of course anything can distract in a learning environment, bad breakfast, bad mood, bad connections, but there is evidence that all visual information, in this case animation, which is unconnected to the purposeful unfolding of meaning, will detract from the learner's experience. That it distracts this paper argues, is not the fault of the animation, but of the way it is employed. Harnessing movement to the purposes of the content, to assist the learner make sense of a domain of knowledge is the basis of this paper. It is informed by Edward Tufte's (1983) principles for clear communication of data and Brenda Dervin's (1999) and Brenda Laurel's (1989) writings on information design and is underpinned by social constructivist theories of learning and education. As a conclusion, the author provides a set of questions and provisional guidelines to assist academics make good use of movement in online resources.

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