The Balance Between Visual and Textual Training Material: How much is a picture really worth?

摘要

The Canadian Safeguards Support Program (CSSP) has been providing the IAEA with instructional materialsfor many years, including training modules such as CANDU reactor fundamentals used in the IntroductoryCourse on Agency Safeguards (ICAS) which is taken by all inspectors. Numerous standalone courses forinstrumentation, such as the CANDU spent fuel monitor and the Digital ?erenkov Viewing Device, havealso been developed to train IAEA staff.The CSSP has pioneered the use of video and animation in both computer- and web-based self-studymodules for instructing inspectors. In 2008 the CSSP delivered a multi-media, web-based training modulefor the IAEA’s Quality Management System. This module was deployed on the IAEA intranet for selfinstructionby all staff in the Department of Safeguards.For analytical work, the CSSP has sponsored the development of tools, techniques, and training material forsatellite image analysis, and a Visualization Interface for Text Analysis (VITA).One of the phrases often quoted is that “a picture is worth a thousand words”. But is that always true? Theauthors’ experience suggests that pictures, videos, and animations are very valuable, but instructionalmaterial needs to be designed for the intended audience. This involves a judicious mixture of text, images,video, sound, and animation and needs to take into account how the information will be accessed by the user.In this paper, the authors look at several CSSP-IAEA collaborative efforts to extract some “lessons learned”about when and how to use visual and textual material including: the results of switching from static imagesto animations in the CANDU spent fuel monitor course; the value of visualizing search results with VITA;the surprising case where analysts preferred words to pictures; and delivery platforms for instructionalmaterial. The suggestions and conclusions in this paper will be of value to organizations with similarmandates.