Visual technical communication: XBRL in Plain English

As the volume of information we need to stay current continues to grow, it becomes increasingly important to deliver digital content in a way that sticks with learners. In order to avoid information simply flowing past learners' minds, we need to apply best practices for multimedia learning to our content.

Research shows the combined use of narration with visuals is effective for learning. Known as dual channel processing, it allows our brain to process information through both the eyes and ears at the same time. Done correctly, this can be a powerful way to reach, and more importantly, stick in learners' minds.

Connecting a visual image to the words we are hearing helps us make more sense from a multimedia message. It's when we make meaning--by linking what we learn to what we already know--that transfer to long term memory occurs.

The alternative is information, or cognitive, overload. We've all been there: transfixed gazes at computer screens or glazed-eye syndrome during a lecture in a dimly lit room.

In the above example, Just Systems adopted the digital storytelling technique used by Common Craft to describe the role of XBRL in financial reporting. It's a complicated subject and, in approximately six minutes, they've done a rather good job of explaining it. You could call it content marketing or selling your idea, but it's about getting a message across as effectively as possible. In a world where competition for our online attention is ferocious, making a message stick becomes as important as the message itself.

As making meaning from the online or mobile content remains the challenge of the day, I think we serve learners well through the effective use of visuals in the form of digital storytelling, mind mapping, videos, charts, graphs and the like.