The Signaling Effect

The signaling effect presents the increase in learning outcomes due to promotion of attention to relevant information. Signals are based on natural attention attractors like movement or contrast. In multimedia this can also be achieved through various methods like1) Ozcelik, Erol, Ismahan Arslan-Ari, and Kursat Cagiltay. Why does signaling enhance multimedia learning? Evidence from eye movements. Computers in Human Behavior 26, no. 1: 110-117. January 2010. :

enumeration, -> arrows, underlining,

bold text, italic text, coloring,

summaries or overviews.

A recent research has again confirmed and attempted to explain the signaling effect using recorded eye movements data of the experiment participants. As they concluded,

“Eye movement data shows that signaling guided attention to relevant information and improved the efficiency and effectiveness of finding necessary information.”1)