Training, engagement and....stereotypes? teachers?

[MMtwo]

I’m working on training materials and I create videos for work (as one of the things I do). For the HMIS Universal Data Element 3.04: Race, it's a HUD thing. My current approach is to give each race definition its own slide. The challenge is that, if I just repeat the same slide format with a new definition each time, it feels like it could turn into a long, monotonous lecture.

To break it up, I’m considering giving each category its own distinctive border design or color theme—something subtle but visually distinct. My hope is that it makes the slides more memorable, and helps the audience stay engaged without me “droning on” over near-identical slides. Even if it means folks are thinking...OMG, whats she going to do for XXX? I work with a diverse group of coworkers.


Before I go too far down that road:

• Do you think using unique borders/themes for each race category is a good idea (adds clarity and visual interest), or a terrible idea (risks being distracting or even unintentionally inappropriate)? I don't want to make stereotype soup.
• Has anyone tried alternative ways to make this section more engaging while still staying respectful and professional?

Anyhow, it's a Sunday afternoon, so thought I would post here for thoughts.

Including a few samples. Definitions directly from HUD.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

While I agree making each slide slightly visually distinct is a good idea, I wouldn’t do a different pattern for each.

What you can do is have 4 rectangular boxes at the bottom, one of which coloured a different colour, depending on which slide you’re on (like a progress bar). So leftmost box coloured blue and others red for slide 1, 2nd from left coloured for slide 2, etc.

 

[MMtwo]

I like that idea very much! Thank you!

 

[Tartansparkles]

I would think about one slide with a map of the world and mark the map as you have outlined above.

 

[MMtwo]

Another great idea! I like this idea too.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I like your idea but not sure about differentiating colors for different races. Some people wouldn’t care at all - and probably not notice - but hard to do without perhaps creating a bias of some sort in some folks minds. I like the colorful red, blue and green border. Maybe use those same colors on all three but in different order? Or a pattern of some sort that could be different shapes? Just nothing that someone might determine is a better color than another and therefore denotes a ‘better than’ look. Nice to spruce up your show, but sometimes information is just dry and folks have to deal with it.

 

[marymm]

Rather than pattern stripes, I'd put a thin box border around the entire copy (heading + supporting paragraphs), with the color of the box border matching the Race heading color.

Personally I would assign the orangey-red color to White, the dark blue to Hispanic, the pink to Black, the green to Asian.

If there are other areas in your presentation that list these Race categories, potentially those are slides where you could repeat the color assignments...

 

[glitterata]

It's pretty, but I wouldn't. Each race encompasses many different people from many different places and cultures, and people might feel the patterns you choose don't represent their particular heritage. I like BlingTrain's idea of having a color, shape, or size highlight the group you're talking about.

 

[Karl_K]

Just catching up on this.
To be honest on training material I hate frilly stuff.
It distracts from the info being presented.
Make the text as big as the slide so even those in the back with poor eyesight can see it.
Nothing makes me tune out faster than small text and frilly slides.