To Animate or Not to Animate,that is the Question

Abstract

Animation presented together with voice narration in a computer presented tutorial did not facilitate learning when compared with a text and static graphics tutorial. The tutorials were the same except for the addition of simple animations and voice narration. Although there were no statistically significant differences there was a difference of 5 percent correct on quiz questions in favor of the animation group. Beyond statistical significance, is this 5 percent increase good justification for animations in computer-based training? The questions of how, when, and if, we should use animations becomes more important when we consider the resources that go into creating animations vs. traditional graphics. This 5 percent difference may be important when we consider that this difference was realized under a 20 minute computer tutorial There has been a lot of focus on animation in software development and training over the last decade and this study raises more questions for further research about animation in training.