Visual-First Task Design

Host: CALL Scotland

Presenter(s): Phil Bell, Chalk learning

Multi-media learning design principles are some of the most impactful in education research, yet they rarely make it into day-to-day task design, partly because building well-designed visual materials at pace is genuinely hard and time-consuming. This session explores how teachers can make their learning materials highly inclusive by putting visuals at the centre of task design, rather than adding them as an afterthought. We'll look at what the research actually tells us about how images support comprehension and working memory, work through classroom examples of tasks redesigned along these principles, and consider practical ways to embed this approach without adding to workload. We will also explore how this fits with supporting learners with specific needs.