Interactive Technology for Elementary Music Teachers-TMEA 2005

Dr. John W. Flohr, Texas Woman’s University, Denton

Dr. Valerie L. Trollinger, Music Research Institute, University of North Carolina, Greensboro

Simple graphic reminders (to help during the presentation)

Colors and Graphic Elements

• Backgrounds—consistent from screen to screen, cool or white
• Foregrounds—consistent, warm may be used
• Text considerations (serif/sans serif)
• Color combinations
• Animations
• Buttons and Links
• Graphics--pictures

Sound

• Relevance
• Reinforcement
• Annoying or not?
• High Quality vs. low quality
• Sound, cont…
• Visual stimuli should not impede the attention to sound, especially for music.

Part 3: The good, the bad and the ugly.

• Samples of Design Do’s and Don’ts.
• The Color Wheel

Don’ts…..

• Ever use Red as a background. PAIN.
• Bright Purple and Yellow
• More than 7 +/-2 colors on any screen, 4 for younger children.
• Moving and waving, especially in blocks of space--not good.
• Too many kinds of fonts and effects.
• Java Applets-those funky menu things.
• Orphans
• Loading problems
• Images that look clickable by aren’t.

Do’s:

• Red as a highlight color ONLY
• Cool color backgrounds, tinted, and White is ALWAYS the best selection (for close up).
• Background is consistent from screen to screen.
• Static shapes that imply motion
• A few carefully selected and complimentary fonts
• Graphics, text, all work together are of the same style.
• Links work!
• Buttons and links are always in the same place.

About Animation…..

• Make sure it always is directly connected to the text.
• They should not just keep going!

Transitions…

• Sounds are not good, except for clicking on a link.
• Flying text, etc, also not good.
• Transitions can work if they are consistently applied.