Structure of Text: Creating Memory Aids through Typography

Type of Presentation

Individual paper/presentation (20 minute presentation)

Target Audience

Other

Presenter Information

Don Armel, Georgia Southern UniversityFollow
Ed Rushton, Georgia Southern University

Location

Room 217

Proposal

See presentation description.

Presentation Description

Not so many years ago, typography was a specific profession with a large field of specialists. Now, with the technology wide spread availability of desktop computers in the Information Age, the novice is setting type with more frequency, more speed and with more possibilities than was available to the professional in the recent past. What are the consequences for information literacy with everyone having this technology at their literal finger tips. While computers have definitely increased the quantity of information; has it also increased the quality of information and our ability to consume it? Formatting of information is often prepared cluttered and clumsy with text that while legible, is often arranged with a dilettante understanding that doesn’t communicate well. By using simple typographic principles - classroom materials (handouts, assignments, instructions) can communicate better to the students by visually organizing information, by providing a structure to the information, and by improving a student's ability to search the information. Taking from typographic research, illustrations will be made to show how proper and poor typographic use impacts learning.

Keywords

Information literacy, Text formatting, Visual literacy, Information processing

Publication Type and Release Option

Presentation (Open Access)

Recommended Citation

Armel, Don and Rushton, Ed, "Structure of Text: Creating Memory Aids through Typography" (2009). Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy. 64.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit/2009/2009/64