A guide to visual learning statistics for online training

Learning can be done in different forms. One of the most common and efficient ways it's done is through visuals like videos, graphs, and infographics. This approach is called visual learning – one of the most known learning styles.

With technology and apps, there are many ways you can use visuals for eLearning and corporate training. Check out these visual learning statistics so you can use this form of learning in your training program.

What is visual learning?

Visual learning is a learning style that delivers information through pictures. Some examples of visual learning include using videos, graphics, and photos to study new concepts or skills. It can also include in-lesson animations and games for learners using smartphones, laptops, and other devices.

According to a paper published in the History of Psychology, this term was created around the 1910s as part of the VAK learning style typology. It stands for visual, audio, and kinesthetic learning styles. Since the 1970s, many studies have been done to identify which of the three was the best learning style for a student. However, this model has since been proven to be ineffective, as it was never meant to be broadly applied to every student.

Despite this, visual learning can still be an effective approach to education and training. A 2016 study, “Creating visual explanations improves learning,” showed that visual learning strategies can help break down complex topics and systems better than verbal explanations. In other words, visual learning can be used as a dynamic instructional approach for everyone – not just for people who identify as visual learners. We’ll dive into the reasoning in the next section.

Benefits of visual learning

Even though VAK learning styles may not be a practical educational theory, visual learning is still an effective training strategy. Here are some of the benefits of using this type of learning:

Improve your team’s understanding of tricky topics

As mentioned before, visual learning often explains a topic better than auditory explanations – but why? Researchers of the study above found that visuals gave students a complete overview of the topic. This way, they could imagine how the topic applied or behaved in the real world.

This type of thinking is called spatial thinking. It’s the process of imagining how an object would interact in a certain space. These are integral skills in any workplace, especially those that work with elaborate systems like engineering. Visual learning can exercise that kind of thinking, making it easier for your learners to understand and apply your training topic.

Drive higher retention rates

It’s also easier to remember images or visuals than words. This is called the picture superiority effect. It has been proven in various studies, like this 2009 paper, where a group that went through visual learning performed better than those who did auditory learning. Not only are visuals engaging and appealing – they can make it easier for your team to recall information and practical skills.

Lower costs (and keep them low)

Thankfully, an effective visual learning program doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s about investing in the right instructional design. Visual learning can be incorporated into existing training or highlighted in important meetings or locations through video, infographics, or even digital courses.

For example, you can place an infographic in the lunchroom so your team can easily refer back to it. This can also work for video demonstrations when you have a new tool in the workplace or you need to teach a safety precaution. By making one of these examples visual, you can easily re-use it and have a stronger chance that your team will remember it.

7 visual learning statistics

Before you start using visual learning, here are some statistics and data you should know when you implement it for your training program.

More than 50% of our brain’s surface is used to process visuals

Our brains are designed to quickly recognize and compress information through what we see. A professor from the University of Rochester found that most of our brain’s cortex (its surface) is used to interpret what we see. It’s like a language that helps us interact with our surroundings.

That’s why visual learning is so effective for hard skills training. If we can see how a skill is practiced, our minds are already hard-wired to store it as information. So, the next time you’re delivering technical information or complex topics that are central to daily operations – add a visual element to make it stick

We can remember 65% of visual information after three days

Visual learning is also great for retention. Dr John Medina estimates that we can only recall 10% of auditory information after three days. When you add a visual, like a picture, you’ll be able to retain about 65% of that same information.

Even if your team doesn’t have a reference at hand, visual learning can give them a reliable callback method through the use of illustrations, animations, or videos. With enough practice guided by visual learning, your team can easily adopt and apply new concepts.

An adult can be fully focused for a minute

A study from 2023 tested the average time an adult can maintain their focus when completing their task. This is defined as sustained attention. They found that older adults take an average of 67 seconds to fully focus on a task. Younger adults were able to focus longer with an average sustained attention span of 76 seconds. Since visual information is stored faster and longer in your brain (as we saw from the previous statistic), you can use this metric to improve your visual learning program.

This is where microlearning can help. The main difference between microlearning vs traditional classroom approaches is that it focuses on shorter and repeatable lessons. If you use visually appealing and short courses, you can maximize their attention even if it lasts for a minute.

It takes your brain 13 milliseconds to process an image

In 2014, researchers from MIT discovered that it takes the brain about 13 milliseconds to visualize an image. Our minds can instantly recognize or identify a given image to understand what it is. This means we are naturally curious about what we have to look at.

In other words, if you’re showing a visual to your team, they’re already taking it in. Just make sure that whatever visual you use is direct and easy to look at, so they'll have an easier time understanding it. Though they may process the image fast, they may misunderstand the message if the visual is too busy or unclear.

Adding color makes visuals 39% more memorable

Color is a great way to add branding to slides, comms, and training material, but there’s also an educational benefit to them. According to Xerox, color can make emails and other written materials 39% memorable. It can also make reading official documents like contracts or policies 80% faster.

Color is one of the best visual learning strategies you can use to make your lessons engaging, captivating, and attractive. Taking the time and effort to choose the appropriate colors can elevate your learning materials. They can also be used for emphasis in the workplace like in infographics, information boards, and documents.

The use of visuals can improve the learning experience by up to 400%

Memory retention is strongly linked to visual learning. 3M's research reveals that incorporating visuals can boost the learning experience by up to 400%. When your team engages with diagrams, infographics, and videos, they can process complex concepts more easily. This leads to better knowledge retention.

Visual aids effectively break down technical topics into bite-sized pieces. This approach is similar to gamification, a mobile-learning technique that presents information and assessments in game-like formats to motivate learners to complete their lessons.

Humans absorb visuals 60,000 times faster than text

In the same study, 3M also reported that humans process visuals 60,000 times faster than text. This rapid processing capability shows how visual aids are essential tools in communication and education. The speed at which individuals absorb visuals also highlights the importance of adding them to your training programs.

It can not only keep your teams engaged but also help them retain vital information more effectively. Understanding the characteristics of visual learners can help you tailor training methods properly, which produces a more impactful and holistic learning experience.

Strategies for visual learners

So, how do visual learners learn best? They thrive when they can see the information. This can be done effectively through images and diagrams. To enhance knowledge retention among your team, check out these three strategies:

• Use flowcharts and diagrams: Visual aids like these simplify complex information by establishing a link between the relationships and processes.

• Implement color coding: Using color to organize notes and materials can help learners grasp topics better. By assigning specific colors to different themes or subjects, they can quickly identify and categorize information.

• Add multimedia resources: Incorporating videos, animations, and interactive presentations to your lesson is a great way to engage your team. These visual learning techniques can help stimulate the brain and improve memory retention.

How effective is visual learning?

Visual learning is becoming more popular as digital training becomes the norm. Our minds are wired to quickly process visual information, so it’s critical to add pictures, videos, or graphics in your training program. Through the power of visuals, your team can learn complex topics and technical skills faster and remember them more accurately.

But, the most important thing to take away from this article is that visual learning is only one out of many learning styles. An engaging and memorable learning session incorporates visual, audio, kinesthetic, and reading elements to engage your team’s senses. With a lively and rich training experience, your team can easily master skills they'll use for their entire career.

You can incorporate visual learning and other learning styles in your training program with Mitti (by SafetyCulture). This creator Tool doesn’t need any experience to use. Just drag and drop the visuals you need or use their built-in course templates, like in-lesson games, to make learning entertaining. This way you can make visual learning interactive and fun with short mobile-friendly courses.