Exploring the effects of visual aesthetics in e-learning for engineering students

Abstract

e-Learning is changing the way students learn in the classroom. However, one of the least emphasised aspect in e-learning design concerns with aesthetics. Recent research in multimedia aesthetics highlighted the need to understand interaction from a multidisciplinary perspective. Aesthetics research in e-learning usually focuses on exploring the effects of positive aesthetics design towards neutral designs and a gap in exploring the effects of negative aesthetics. In this study, two different designs were developed to reflect positive and negative aesthetics designs. The cognitive outcome of these designs was compared and evaluated based on a learning achievement to measure comprehension. Gender and academic achievement were also explored to investigate if these factors had an effect on aesthetics perception and learning achievement. Based on the outcome of 95 electronic engineering students from two different polytechnics in Malaysia, it was found that engineering students performed better in the negative design in comparison to the positive design. In addition, genders or academic achievement differences were found not to influence the outcome.

Interface Design for E-Learning: Investigating Design Characteristics of Colour and Graphic Elements for Generation Z

“…Many interface elements have been studied by past researchers, especially colour and graphic elements. These two elements have always been considered and used in the interface design of e-learning [10], [25], [26]. Colour plays a vital role in e-learning interface design as it can stimulate the learning process because the brain receives information visually [27].…”