{"id":5088,"date":"2023-07-14T15:31:34","date_gmt":"2023-07-14T14:31:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/?p=5088"},"modified":"2026-04-15T07:52:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T06:52:58","slug":"can-text-heavy-content-ever-be-learner-friendly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/can-text-heavy-content-ever-be-learner-friendly\/","title":{"rendered":"Can text-heavy content ever be learner-friendly?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Text-heavy slides can quickly feel overwhelming for learners, even when the content is useful. It\u2019s easy to think the solution is more visuals or multimedia. But that can often create more noise than clarity.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>That\u2019s why we have prepared practical tips and JollyDeck hints to help you turn text-heavy content into clear, engaging, and learner-friendly slides.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Images won\u2019t fix this<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve got too much text on these slides. Let&#8217;s throw in some images.&#8221;&nbsp;<br>Sounds familiar? If you&#8217;ve worked in L&amp;D, it probably does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While multimedia can certainly improve readability and visual appeal, it\u2019s not always the answer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Not everything can be effectively conveyed through imagery. And a lot of flashy multimedia doesn\u2019t necessarily add value.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sometimes, the multimedia available simply doesn\u2019t align with your content. Instead of supporting your message, it can clash with it or even create confusion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>And when content is overloaded with rich media, it can lead to cognitive overload, making it harder for learners to process, reflect on, and retain information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group highlight-special\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p>The point is, you don&#8217;t need fancy visuals to transform text-heavy content into compelling slides.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s some top tips for turning walls of text into attention-grabbing slides.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top tip #1: Break it down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Breaking long blocks of text into bite-sized chunks makes content feel more <strong>manageable <\/strong>and gives learners a<strong> sense of progress<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"highlight-special-gray-light\">\n<ol class=\"checklist\">\n<li>\n<div>\n<div class=\"checklistTitle\">Stick to one idea per paragraph<\/div>\n<div class=\"checklistDescription\">Keep each paragraph focused on a single idea or topic.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div class=\"checklistTitle\">Use subheadings<\/div>\n<div class=\"checklistDescription\">\n<p>Clear subheadings help direct attention to key messages.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div class=\"checklistTitle\">Use bullet points or numbered lists<\/div>\n<div class=\"checklistDescription\">\n<p>Keep each item concise to maintain clarity and readability.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div class=\"checklistTitle\">Move extra detail into a \u201cWant to know more?\u201d section<\/div>\n<div class=\"checklistDescription\">\n<p>This keeps the main content focused while still offering depth for those who want it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div><b>JollyDeck hint:<\/b><br>Use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/creating-content\/what-are-interactive-links-and-how-do-i-create-them\/\">interactive links<\/a> to add extra detail through drop-down sections, pop-up slides, and more.<\/br><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s an example of what this looks like in practice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large imageShadowExtra\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"799\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-1-3-1024x799.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-1-3-1024x799.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-1-3-359x280.png 359w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-1-3-768x600.png 768w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-1-3-1536x1199.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-1-3-2048x1599.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top tip #2: Think about layout<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A well-designed layout helps <strong>guide learners<\/strong> through the content in a <strong>logical<\/strong>, <strong>structured way<\/strong>, making key concepts easier to understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"highlight-special-gray-light\">\n<ol class=\"checklist\">\n<li>\n<div>\n<div class=\"checklistTitle\">Use whitespace effectively<\/div>\n<div class=\"checklistDescription\">Give your content room to breathe.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div class=\"checklistTitle\">Aim for a comfortable reading with alignments and padding<\/div>\n<div class=\"checklistDescription\">\n<p>Use centre alignment for short text only (for titles or short highlights) and avoid making text rows too narrow or spread out.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div class=\"checklistTitle\">Test on different screen sizes<\/div>\n<div class=\"checklistDescription\">\n<p>E-learning content should work seamlessly on different devices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div><b>JollyDeck hint:<\/b><br>As you build your course, use the <b>Preview<\/b> tab to switch between devices and see how your content performs across different screen sizes.<\/br><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s see how this translates into practice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large imageShadowExtra\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"772\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-2-1-1024x772.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7474\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-2-1-1024x772.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-2-1-371x280.png 371w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-2-1-768x579.png 768w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-2-1-1536x1158.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-2-1-2048x1544.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top tip #3: Make visual enhancements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Visual elements are <strong>key to improving content readability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Skillfully employing <strong>formatting techniques<\/strong> and <strong>visual separators<\/strong> is often more impactful than flashy multimedia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"highlight-special-gray-light\">\n<ol class=\"checklist\">\n<li>\n<div>\n<div class=\"checklistTitle\">Use colour and formatting intentionally<\/div>\n<div class=\"checklistDescription\">Highlight key information with colours and formatting to guide attention.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div class=\"checklistTitle\">Visually separate text blocks<\/div>\n<div class=\"checklistDescription\">\n<p>Use backgrounds, line separators, and whitespace to create clear sections.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div class=\"checklistTitle\">Utilise icons<\/div>\n<div class=\"checklistDescription\">\n<p>Icons can break up text, reinforce key points, and reduce visual monotony.<\/p><\/i>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div class=\"checklistTitle\">Stay consistent<\/div>\n<div class=\"checklistDescription\">\n<p>Apply headings, subheadings, bullet points and formatting styles consistently throughout.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div><b>JollyDeck hint:<\/b><br> JollyDeck Create offers templated elements and rows to help you maintain consistency across your content. Don\u2019t forget about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/creating-content\/what-keyboard-shortcuts-can-i-use-while-editing\/\">keyboard shortcuts<\/a> to quickly reuse already designed rows throughout your course.<\/br><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s see this in action:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large imageShadowExtra\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" data-id=\"7485\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-3-1-1024x640.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7485\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-3-1-1024x640.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-3-1-448x280.png 448w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-3-1-768x480.png 768w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-3-1-1536x960.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-3-1-2048x1280.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The strength of multimedia<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Multimedia such as images, videos, and interactive elements <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/engagement-manifesto\/\">promote engagement<\/a><\/strong>, <strong>bring abstract ideas to life<\/strong>, and <strong>deepen understanding.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it\u2019s not a quick fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group highlight-special\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p>Multimedia won\u2019t magically make a text-heavy slide engaging. You need to be mindful of how you use it.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top tip #4: Embrace the power of visuals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Too much media can overwhelm learners, causing cognitive overload and strain on their working memory. <strong>The key is balance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"highlight-special-gray-light\">\n<ol class=\"checklist\">\n<li>\n<div>\n<div class=\"checklistTitle\">Only include relevant multimedia<\/div>\n<div class=\"checklistDescription\">\n<p>Every element should serve a clear purpose and support your key message.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div class=\"checklistTitle\">Set the mood and pace<\/div>\n<div class=\"checklistDescription\">\n<p>Use multimedia to set the mood or slow down the pace of information delivery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div class=\"checklistTitle\">Don\u2019t overdo it!<\/div>\n<div class=\"checklistDescription\">\n<p>Less is almost always more. Aim for the right balance between text, visuals, and whitespace.<\/p><\/i>\n<\/div><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div><b>JollyDeck hint:<\/b><br>Search for relevant visuals in the built-in library of photos, icons, and interactive elements, or generate your own images using AI Copilot, all within JollyDeck Create.<\/br><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>How this works in practice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large imageShadowExtra\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"748\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-4-748x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-4-748x1024.png 748w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-4-205x280.png 205w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-4-768x1051.png 768w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-4-1122x1536.png 1122w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-4-1496x2048.png 1496w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Frame-4-scaled.png 1870w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A note on videos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Video can be a powerful way to support learning. Especially when you\u2019re dealing with complex or content-heavy topics. It can help clarify ideas, add context, and make information easier to follow. But, like any form of multimedia, <strong>it works best when used with intention<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Used well, video can break up dense content and give learners a different way to engage with key messages, without overwhelming them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/text-to-video-in-e-learning-the-future-of-course-authoring\/\">JollyDeck\u2019s AI video authoring tool<\/a>, you can create videos directly inside your e-learning environment. This makes it easy to combine <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/text-to-video-in-e-learning-the-importance-of-speech\/\">the power of speech<\/a> with visuals, helping you present complex information in a clear and digestible way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">So, can text-heavy content ever be learner-friendly?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Absolutely.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With thoughtful use of structure, whitespace, formatting, and multimedia, you can create compelling e-learning, even when you have a lot to say and limited visual assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Still not convinced? Here is a couple of more examples that prove text-heavy content can be learner-friendly:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image imageShadowExtra\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"730\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Group-30.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Group-30.png 685w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Group-30-263x280.png 263w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image imageShadowExtra\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"813\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Group-31.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7482\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Group-31.png 685w, https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Group-31-236x280.png 236w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group highlight-special-gray-light\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Struggling with a text-heavy slide?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Challenge accepted!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Send us a link to your slide and our team will work their magic using only JollyDeck Create.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/contact\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"support@jollydeck.com\" class=\"class=&quot;generalButton generalButtonLarge generalButtonDark\">Fix my slide<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Text-heavy slides can quickly feel overwhelming for learners, even when the content is useful. It\u2019s easy to think the solution is more visuals or multimedia. But that can often create more noise than clarity. That\u2019s why we have prepared practical &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/can-text-heavy-content-ever-be-learner-friendly\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":7381,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5088","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5088"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5088\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7490,"href":"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5088\/revisions\/7490"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7381"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5088"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jollydeck.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}