Color design strategy for improvement in learning effect of online education content

Abstract

In digital age, mankinds life style is more connected to online environment than ever and there have been some changes in paradigm. One of the most conservative area, the field of education, is also merging with online environment, and E-learning contents are becoming the norm of the society. With pros consisting of constant learning, personalized customized learning and utilization of multimedia, education field is expected to be developed into something more. Unlike traditional education system, importance of e-learnings GUI is prominent due to characteristics like self-learning, learning through a monitor, etc. Among composing elements of GUI, color as the primary cognitive element is very important due to creation of memory and positive image, increase in concentration and effective in creating learning environment. It is also effective in transferring information and knowledge and establishing an identity. However, even with its importance, the research regarding application methods and standards have been insufficient. Therefore, I have researched into various effects of color in e-learning, insufficient parts in color planning of contents and proposition of standards. In this research, each colors detailed effects in learning and suitability was studied. 135 e-learning contents that were being utilized at S cyber university were selected from 7 departments (20 contents each, 15 contents for cultural arts department) and analyzed for general color psychology, cognition and color characteristics through survey of students centered on suitability of color. Color guidelines were provided to simplify color selection by the teacher and the producer but there wasnt any standards on color selection regarding characteristics of subject or creation of environment centered on students. This research classifies and analyzes contents centered on 8 kinds of color to suggest guidelines and importance of color planning during e-learning content production in order to provide comfortable and effective learning environment. I hope that increase in learning effectiveness of contents to be produced is realized through establishment of correct color planning with considerations of subjects characteristics, students and topic from the planning stage of contents.