2. “Instructional Message Design refers to
the manipulation and planning of signs
and symbols that can be produced for
the purpose of modifying the
cognitive, affective, or psychomotor
behavior of one of more persons.”
Huh?

3. Message design is a process of making
decisions about communication. These
decisions involve both what is being
delivered (content) and how it is delivered
(delivery).
Each decision we make about messages
we send or develop contributes either
positively or negatively to the quality of
communication. Our goal as teachers is to
promote learning!

4.  It can improve student learning.
 It can improve readability.
 It can decrease student questions.

5. Guidelines for designing with text include:
 Typography decisions (font)
 Color and Layout
 Structure and Organization

6. For text size:
 Typical sizes in textbooks are 10, 11, and
12 point
 6 or 8 point are too small for most people
to read with ease
 14, 18, and 24 point are good for
headings and display purposes
(Hartley, 2004)

7. REMEMBER: The specified size of a particular
typeface doesn’t refer to the size of the
image of the printed characters as seen by
the reader.
Examples:
Times New Roman, 30
Calibri, 30
Impact, 30
(Hartley, 2004)

8.  When designing for instruction, it is better
to stick for traditional typefaces.
 It is much easier and appealing for
students to read a more traditional font than it
is to read a less traditional font.

9. Use appropriate contrast in presentations
Bad use of contrast Good use of contrast

10.  Be sure to align the text in your
presentations for students as well as your
tests, quizzes and other papers.
Not having
Your text aligned
can lead to
confustion for
the student

11. It is important to remember that the type of
font you choose and how you use it can
make a difference.

12. Hartley, J. (2004). Designing instructional and informational
text. In D. H. Jonassen (Ed.) Handbook of Research in
Educational Communications and Technology (2nd edition).
Mahwah, N.J: Erlbaum. ISBN 0 8058 4145 8. Retrieved
August, 28, fromhttp://www.aect.org/edtech/34.pdf
Chapter 17 in Anglin’s BOOK 2nd EDITION: Message Design-
Issues & Trends by Grabowski