eLearning : Three Tips For Better Color Usage

by Sally Cox, COTP

Tip #1:  Be Transparent Perhaps being transparent isn’t the best thing in real life. But in eLearning? Yes! I use transparent shades under areas of text I want to highlight for the learner, but I don’t want it to be distracting in any way. A transparent yellow is a choice I often use because it’s neutral and works with almost any color palette. Or, you can choose one of your corporate palette colors. Even a light gray can work well. The objective is to draw subtle attention to the text, but still allow the learner to absorb the rest of the content on the slide.

Tip #2:  Use Color to Train the Learner Using a single color for all learner interactions is a great trick because your learner will automatically know they need to engage when they see that color. This is especially useful for beginners or learners who lack computer experience.  Setting all interactive elements to the same color scheme gives the learner the ease of quickly knowing when they need to engage with the content.

Tip #3:  Use High Contrast Regardless of what color you use, ensure that every piece of text is readable and that there’s plenty of contrast. It is imperative that every learner is able to read all of the content, including sight or vision-impaired persons. (They use screen reading software to interpret the text, and it’s got to be high-contrast to be decipherable.) You won’t know what type of device your learner is using to view your course. Different monitor settings or brightness controls on mobile devices can alter the experience. Prepare for every scenario.

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Sally Cox is an Instructional Designer, Certified Online Training Professional, Adobe trainer, and eLearning professional through her company kreatable.com. She's an Adobe Community Professional and Adobe User Group manager, and her vast experience includes set designer for "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" in the 1980s, for WQED-TV, Pittsburgh.