If you want to heighten the online education experience of learners, you may want to pay close attention to the colors that you will use.
According to a study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, there is a strong connection between colors and memory abilities. The study revealed that using the right colors and hues can increase the stimuli that will let new memories be understood, stored and retrieved. There is also evidence that the perfect manipulation of these colors can have a huge effect on how extensive the memory performance can be.
What is probably interesting about colors when it comes to learning is the fact that even color blind individuals react to it. Their brain can still be affected by colors, even if they cannot distinguish it properly. That is how amazing the relationship between colors and our brain really is.
This is the reason why you should be careful when selecting the colors that you will use in your online education courses. When one studies online, interaction is usually limited. This makes their reaction and memory-generating elements restricted as well.
It does not really take a Ph.D. to use colors to your advantage. You just have to understand the emotions and reactions that people have when exposed to certain colors. As you create your online courses, take note of the following colors.
Orange. This will make the learners feel energized and refreshed. It is a great color to use for online education that needs adventure and excitement while preserving a professional vibe. It also promotes critical thinking and memory. It is also a great color to use during assessments.
Blue. This is the color that promotes peace and calm. It makes the learners feel a sense of tranquility that is effective in making them focus. You can use this if the course is expected to be stressful. For instance, assessments should have a prominently blue layout. Or at least, the ones before that. Just try not to use it excessively because it can also make people depressed.
Yellow. This color promotes energy and happiness – which can be very helpful when the lesson is a bit dull. It can also promote optimism and intelligence. If you want participants of the online education to be mentally focused on the lesson, this is the color you should use. Just do not overdo it because it can also feel stressful when used in excess.
Red. This shade promotes the feeling of passion and excitement. It can be a very catchy color for online education participants. This is great for concepts that you want to highlight – or the navigation icons. If you need something to be noticed immediately, this is the color to use. Like the other colors, use this wisely because it can also promote frustration and anger.
Brown. This is the color to use if you want your online education material to be simple, dependable and reliable. It also promotes a feeling of being organized – which is a great color to use if you do not want the learner to be distracted. Make sure you stick to the warmer shades to give it a clean look.
Green. This shade can symbolize different things depending on the hue that you will use. If you use lime green, that promotes energy. Since green is also associated with money, any online course that deals with profitability or sales will also benefit from this color.
Pink. This color is great for evoking feelings of love, compassion, nurturing, and understanding. This is more cheerful than red. This is a great color to use if you want the online education to adopt a friendly and open learning atmosphere. Lighter shades of pink will give the course a calm pace while darker shades will make it more energetic.
Purple. This color is all about spirituality and royalty. It also means intrigue. If there are historic figures to be discussed, this is a great color to use. It tends to make the learner take notice of something in the lesson. Just make sure it will be used as an accent color. Otherwise, it might be too distracting for the learner.
Take note that using the right colors in online education should not only take into consideration the lesson, but also the learners. There are colors suited for adults and children. There are hues suited for people in specific professions. There are shades that work well for women, and those that are best for men. You can also consider the cultural background of the learners to determine what colors are important to them – and what symbolizes an omen or something similar. You do not want to take offense from your use of colors.
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