I've found that no matter what you do, people won't remember icons. But I have had some good results grouping them. SO if there are icons that always display, like print, edit, create, and so on, introduce them as a group. Then if there are other icons that are conditional, for example, if you click create, these icons become available. Then you can do roll-over state changes that, hopefully, reflect the behavior in the real system.
People tend to remember when they can make an association to something, rather than just a list of icons and functions.
Since, as Garth suggests, Learners may not remember the icons without context, could you introduce them as you introduce the tasks they represent, but also have a job aid available, perhaps as a Resource or a lightbox slide, that lists all of them and what they do?
How important is it to learn the icons? If it is important to a least be familiar with them maybe you should create a reference chart. Even you don't really expect them to memorize them all so why include it in the course? Here an image I have that has some icons and does a pretty good job in organizing them.
I would start by explaining that there ARE a lot - show them all, but then take them away and try to explain/show in groups.
If people see the enormity of the issue, (the full set), often they will react well to your trying, as the trainer, to reduce and simplify in some way.
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I've found that no matter what you do, people won't remember icons. But I have had some good results grouping them. SO if there are icons that always display, like print, edit, create, and so on, introduce them as a group. Then if there are other icons that are conditional, for example, if you click create, these icons become available. Then you can do roll-over state changes that, hopefully, reflect the behavior in the real system.
People tend to remember when they can make an association to something, rather than just a list of icons and functions.
Hi Louis,
Since, as Garth suggests, Learners may not remember the icons without context, could you introduce them as you introduce the tasks they represent, but also have a job aid available, perhaps as a Resource or a lightbox slide, that lists all of them and what they do?
Hi,
Thanks for your replies...that's helped me think about the best way to do this most effectively.
I think I'm going to split them down into category groups of around five each and then have the user roll over each one to display it's status.
I think what is difficult is because these users are not going to be involved in the processes which instigate the appearance of the icons.
Again thanks for your help...
How important is it to learn the icons? If it is important to a least be familiar with them maybe you should create a reference chart. Even you don't really expect them to memorize them all so why include it in the course? Here an image I have that has some icons and does a pretty good job in organizing them.
I think they need to be in there just as reference but I have attached a CRIB sheet which contains a breakdown of the icons.
Thanks for the example, I have used this to create a similar layout in the e-Learning.
I would start by explaining that there ARE a lot - show them all, but then take them away and try to explain/show in groups.
If people see the enormity of the issue, (the full set), often they will react well to your trying, as the trainer, to reduce and simplify in some way.
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