What kinds of metaphors are you using in the visual design of your course? You could play off of a recurring visual element that ties to your content... maybe combine it with a symbol like a checkmark, like the soccer, prescription, and fire extinguisher example below. Or sometimes just using a clipboard can work well, since it implies checking and recording something. I also like icons that imply thought or mental processing, like the light-green icon below with 3 thought-circles. Maybe you could create something like that, with symbols to represent your course content.
And sometimes just using the word "quiz" can be totally fine too - you could always combine it with a thought-bubble and a visual metaphor like in the insect example below. (All of these examples are things in the MS clipart library, btw.)
Oh I just thought of something else. Depending on the tone and personality of your course, using the words "pop quiz" can be fun too. You could maybe do something cartoony or fun or humorous with that. Here are a couple examples:
Ange, do a Google for 'free icons' or 'free icon sets' or 'free quiz icons' ... you'll get loads of sites to check out. Here's an example of 44 free sets. Even if you don't find a quiz-specific one, you're bound to find others that you can use (and maintain uniformity if necessary).
Jeanette- LOVE the pop quiz toaster...I'll be using that one soon.
Do you have png copies of the other three pics you are showing? (pop quiz, learn the slang, energy puzzle) Even if you post them individually, (like the pop quiz toaster) I could use them...with your permission, of course.
I've attached a zip file. It contains a PowerPoint file with some source objects, plus the PNGs. For the toaster, you could easily customize that... it was made by ungrouping and modifying a MS clipart image and I added some text in the Rudiment font, which is freeware.
The Pop Quiz icon and puzzle icon were created right in PowerPoint; the zip file contains both the PNGs and the PowerPoint file. The questionmark on the starburst icon is a textbox using the font Bodoni MT Black. The text below the icons (Pop Quiz and Energy Puzzle) are Cooper Black, which I believe is a Microsoft system font.
It really is pretty cool how much you can do with simple textboxes & shapes in PowerPoint.
I made this one for a series. Simple, easy, and highly customizable: I used two speech bubbles in a green and blue from my color scheme. Create the shapes, save as PNG so you have a transparent background that stays nice and clear if you need to resize.
Don't overlook the possibilities of using an audio cue as well. This is done so often in movies and TV that we hardly notice... but when we hear a particular sound effect, or a few notes of music, we've been given a cue as to what's going to happen next.
I've been experimenting with this idea not only for quizzes and practices, but when there's a topic break in a module, or when there's a downloadable attachment that I want to draw attention to.
I'm uploading a set of four audio transitions that I'm planning to use to end sections or topics.
Have you ever had a look at http://www.iconfinder.com? They have an option of "Allowed for commercial use - No link required" on some of their graphics. I've found some useful icons that I've used with online courses. They will often have the icon in different sizes so if you use several icons you can ensure they are a uniform size.
I like to make my own. In PowerPoint it's pretty easy to take a simple shape, add some bevel effects, change the material, shadow, etc- voila! Free Icon!
15 Replies
Hi Ange - great question!
What kinds of metaphors are you using in the visual design of your course? You could play off of a recurring visual element that ties to your content... maybe combine it with a symbol like a checkmark, like the soccer, prescription, and fire extinguisher example below. Or sometimes just using a clipboard can work well, since it implies checking and recording something. I also like icons that imply thought or mental processing, like the light-green icon below with 3 thought-circles. Maybe you could create something like that, with symbols to represent your course content.
And sometimes just using the word "quiz" can be totally fine too - you could always combine it with a thought-bubble and a visual metaphor like in the insect example below. (All of these examples are things in the MS clipart library, btw.)
Oh I just thought of something else. Depending on the tone and personality of your course, using the words "pop quiz" can be fun too. You could maybe do something cartoony or fun or humorous with that. Here are a couple examples:
last project we did knowledge checks and used a brain with a question mark
Hi there
We have a more formal approach, but use a range of clip art icons. For quizzes, we use 4 types:
Question (Quetion mark)
Correct (Tick mark)
Incorrect (X)
Caution/Be aware (exclamation Mark)
As these are clip are, they are free, but also already of a uniform style, which is really helpful.
Thanks so much Jeanette, Phil and Brendan - these are all really helpful, and great inspiration!
Ange, do a Google for 'free icons' or 'free icon sets' or 'free quiz icons' ... you'll get loads of sites to check out. Here's an example of 44 free sets. Even if you don't find a quiz-specific one, you're bound to find others that you can use (and maintain uniformity if necessary).
Hi Everyone,
Great ideas!
Jeanette- LOVE the pop quiz toaster...I'll be using that one soon.
Do you have png copies of the other three pics you are showing? (pop quiz, learn the slang, energy puzzle) Even if you post them individually, (like the pop quiz toaster) I could use them...with your permission, of course.
Hi Jamee - sure!
I've attached a zip file. It contains a PowerPoint file with some source objects, plus the PNGs. For the toaster, you could easily customize that... it was made by ungrouping and modifying a MS clipart image and I added some text in the Rudiment font, which is freeware.
The Pop Quiz icon and puzzle icon were created right in PowerPoint; the zip file contains both the PNGs and the PowerPoint file. The questionmark on the starburst icon is a textbox using the font Bodoni MT Black. The text below the icons (Pop Quiz and Energy Puzzle) are Cooper Black, which I believe is a Microsoft system font.
It really is pretty cool how much you can do with simple textboxes & shapes in PowerPoint.
Awesome! Thanks so much!!
Hi,
I made this one for a series. Simple, easy, and highly customizable: I used two speech bubbles in a green and blue from my color scheme. Create the shapes, save as PNG so you have a transparent background that stays nice and clear if you need to resize.
Cheers,
S.
I like! Simple & intuitive.
Don't overlook the possibilities of using an audio cue as well. This is done so often in movies and TV that we hardly notice... but when we hear a particular sound effect, or a few notes of music, we've been given a cue as to what's going to happen next.
Here's an article that gives ten examples:
http://entertainment.time.com/2010/09/13/top-10-unforgettable-tv-sounds/slide/law-orders-doink-doink/#law-orders-doink-doink
I've been experimenting with this idea not only for quizzes and practices, but when there's a topic break in a module, or when there's a downloadable attachment that I want to draw attention to.
I'm uploading a set of four audio transitions that I'm planning to use to end sections or topics.
Dave
Hi Ange
Have you ever had a look at http://www.iconfinder.com? They have an option of "Allowed for commercial use - No link required" on some of their graphics. I've found some useful icons that I've used with online courses. They will often have the icon in different sizes so if you use several icons you can ensure they are a uniform size.
Amy
Ah... another idea: the "sign generator" from Redkid.
http://www.redkid.net/generator/sign.php
I like to make my own. In PowerPoint it's pretty easy to take a simple shape, add some bevel effects, change the material, shadow, etc- voila! Free Icon!
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