In addition to the “how-to” of video creation, it’s important to understand how video design supports your teaching and your students’ learning. The Cognitive Load Theory And the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning suggest that our working memory is only capable of processing a limited amount of information at a time (Sweller, 1988). Therefore, by principle, your student’s cognitive load should be considered during the video design process. Without getting too complicated, we have shared a simplified list of guidelines to keep in mind while you design your video. Originally articulated by Robert Talbert from Grand Valley State University, the list includes evidence-based design principles illustrated by various cognitive researchers.
Figure 7: Video design principles guidelines.