Coherence Principle

"Simplify for success."
Avoid adding unnecessary sounds, visuals, or text that don’t directly support the learning goal. Overloading a slide with too much data or unrelated graphics disrupts focus.

Signaling Principle

"Guide the eye."
Highlight key takeaways with visual or auditory cues like arrows, color contrast, or bold text. This directs attention to what’s essential.

Redundancy Principle

"Simplify, don’t duplicate."
Avoid repeating on-screen text that matches narration word-for-word. Learners grasp information better when visuals complement narration rather than replicate it.

Spatial Contiguity Principle

"Keep related elements together."
Position relevant text and visuals near each other to help learners associate them more easily.

Temporal Contiguity Principle

"Timing matters."
Present narration and visuals simultaneously rather than one after the other. This ensures learners can make connections in real time.