Mirjam Neelen
Paul A. Kirschner
When accompanying text with images, a learner learns better. However, this only works when they are combined properly!
A good combination of words and images facilitates learning. This is based on the dual coding theory (Paivio, 1971), which uses the idea that humans need either verbal associations or visual imagery to increase learning effectiveness. The theory assumes that we have two specific yet connected cognitive subsystems. One subsystem is specialized in representing and processing nonverbal objects/events (i.e., imagery), and the other subsystem is specialized in dealing with language. To put it simply, the theory discusses how we process verbal and visual information in our brains.
See full article in 3-Star Learning Experiences.
AUTHORS
Mirjam Neelen is a learning consultant and a learning experience designer. She is currently responsible for the strategic design of learning experiences for various clients and learning teams.
Mirjam is a strong advocate for evidence-based approaches to learning experience design and co-authors a blog with Paul A. Kirschner. Together, they recently published a book on evidence-based learning experience design. She regularly gives public presentations about her work.
She holds a MA Learning Sciences, a postgraduate degree in Psycholinguistics, and a BA in Speech Therapy.
Paul A. Kirschner, dr.h.c. is Emeritus Professor of Educational Psychology at the Open University of the Netherlands and Guest Professor at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences (Mechelen, Belgium. He holds an honorary doctorate at Oulu University (Finland) and is Research Fellow of the American Educational Research Association, the International Society for the Learning Sciences. and the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study. He is a former member of the Dutch Educational Council.