How People Learn from Words and Pictures
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Learning is most effective when words and pictures work together. According to research in educational psychology (especially Richard Mayer’s Multimedia Learning Theory), combining text, narration, and visuals can reduce cognitive overload and help learners understand concepts more deeply.
Reasoning Processes Involved
When learners study words and pictures together, they use two main channels:
- Verbal channel → processes spoken or written words.
- Visual channel → processes images, diagrams, and animations.
The brain then integrates this information to build a meaningful understanding.
Research-Backed Strategies that Improve Learning
- Coherence Principle – Remove unnecessary details that don’t support learning.
- Modality Principle – Use narration with visuals instead of text-heavy slides.
- Contiguity Principle – Place text close to the images they describe.
- Redundancy Principle – Avoid reading text that already appears on screen.
- Personalization Principle – Use a conversational style to engage learners.
Useful References
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Mayer, R.E. (2009). Multimedia Learning (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Last modified: Wednesday, 22 October 2025, 12:58 PM