Personalization Principle #3: Make the Author Visible to Promote Learning

Clark and Mayer (2011) recommend instructional materials be designed to make the teacher visible rather than to hide the teacher behind a presentation of information in the third person. If a teacher makes reference to himself or herself in an example, learners may pay more attention and experience more engagement and less transnational distance (p 198).

Source: https://www.coursera.org/instructor/gerrylanders

The screenshot above was derived from the promotion of a MOOC offered by Coursera. The instructor of the MOOC is quite literally visible to prospective learners. The screen reveals some details about his career, where he has lived, and his interests.I believe this is an example of making the author or instructor visible to promote learning. I believe that this principle should be practiced in moderation. A teacher with a large ego may err on the side of drawing too much attention to himself. The purpose, of course, is to convey relevant knowledge rather than to draw attention to one's self. If the instructor becomes the focus of attention the principles of coherence stand to be broken. This might also be the case if the instructor chooses to appear in graphics or video wearing attire that distracts from the content being taught.

References

Clark, R. C. & Mayer, R.E. (2011). E-learning and the science of instruction: Proven Guidelines for consumers and designers of multimedia learning. San Francisco: Pfeiffer.