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Emily Moore,
Brianna J. Tomlinson,
and
Bruce N. Walker
Designing sound representations of information can be a complex, but necessary part of engaging students and making material accessible to a larger group of learners. While advances in these tools (e.g., interactive simulations) have made many freely available to millions of STEM students and classrooms around the world, their reliance on visual-only representations makes it difficult for diverse groups of students to access the content. In this course we will introduce you to sound and sound design, to help you successfully integrate enjoyable and effective sounds into interactive learning tools.
Read more
Designing sound representations of information can be a complex, but necessary part of engaging students and making material accessible to a larger group of learners. While advances in these tools (e.g., interactive simulations) have made many freely available to millions of STEM students and classrooms around the world, their reliance on visual-only representations makes it difficult for diverse groups of students to access the content. In this course we will introduce you to sound and sound design, to help you successfully integrate enjoyable and effective sounds into interactive learning tools.
Read more
Designing sound representations of information can be a complex, but necessary part of engaging students and making material accessible to a larger group of learners. While advances in these tools (e.g., interactive simulations) have made many freely available to millions of STEM students and classrooms around the world, their reliance on visual-only representations makes it difficult for diverse groups of students to access the content. In this course we will introduce you to sound and sound design, to help you successfully integrate enjoyable and effective sounds into interactive learning tools.
This course will take about 6 weeks to complete. Some of the modules are shorter, with videos focused on quick introductions or refreshers to get you up to speed with information you need fast. Others are longer (Modules 2 & 3), and include more working examples, or scenarios to consider.
When you finish this course, you’ll know how to:
1. Identify concepts to associate with sounds in learning tools
2. Brainstorm sound designs
3. Prototype sound designs
4. Evaluate sound designs
5. Interpret results and decide next steps
The lessons cover terminology, best practices in design, and even give you an introduction to creating sounds.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/5uhr8e/sound
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What's inside
Syllabus
Sound
What sounds do we hear every day? What sounds do we hear when we use technology? And, how do we rely on them to inform our decisions throughout the day? We’ll cover categories of sound types and terminology.
Read more
Syllabus
Sound
What sounds do we hear every day? What sounds do we hear when we use technology? And, how do we rely on them to inform our decisions throughout the day? We’ll cover categories of sound types and terminology.
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Focuses on designing sound representations of information for diverse learner needs
Instructors have expertise in STEM education, sound design and human-computer interaction
Provides practical methods for prototyping and evaluating sound designs
Covers the basics of sound design and sound characteristics
Suitable for educators and instructional designers who want to enhance the accessibility of STEM learning materials
This course requires students to have basic knowledge of audio editing software
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Reviews summary
Sonification design for accessible learning tools
According to learners, this course offers an invaluable introduction to sound and sonification design, particularly for those aiming to create accessible interactive learning tools. Students found the content on designing sounds and sonifications and understanding sound characteristics and mappings particularly strong, with many appreciating the practical examples and discussions on best practices. While generally highly recommended for its unique focus, some learners felt certain sections, like programmatic sound creation, were more of an overview rather than a deep dive, potentially leaving more advanced users wanting. Overall, it successfully bridges sound design with educational technology.
Highly valuable for those in educational technology and accessibility.
"Absolutely invaluable for anyone looking to integrate sound into educational tools."
"This course truly opened my eyes to the power of sound in accessibility for learning."
"Highly recommend for instructional designers."
Offers a clear and accessible introduction to core concepts.
"A solid introduction to sonification. I found the evaluation module insightful for understanding user perception."
"Learned a lot about the different categories of sound types and terminology."
"The instructors explain complex ideas in a very accessible way."
Provides actionable insights for integrating sound into learning tools.
"Absolutely invaluable for anyone looking to integrate sound into educational tools. The module on designing sounds and sonifications was a highlight, providing best practices..."
"The practical examples and discussions on sound characteristics and mappings were excellent. It successfully bridges the gap between sound design and educational technology."
"I particularly appreciated the hands-on exercises which really helped solidify the concepts."
Some supplementary external links may be outdated.
"My only critique is that some of the links to external resources felt a bit outdated, but the core content is still very relevant."
Some advanced technical topics are covered at an introductory level.
"The course covers interesting ground, but I felt some parts, especially on creating sounds programmatically, were quite superficial."
"It felt more like an overview than a deep dive. Good for beginners, but I was hoping for more advanced techniques."
"While it provides a great theoretical foundation, I wished there were more detailed tutorials on specific prototyping tools beyond the introduction."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools with these
activities:
Review basic acoustics and psychoacoustics
Show steps
Reviewing basic acoustics and psychoacoustics strengthens the student's understanding of the fundamental principles of sound and how it is perceived.
Browse courses on
Acoustics
Show steps
-
Review notes or online resources on basic acoustics
-
Review notes or online resources on psychoacoustics
Read a book on sound design
Show steps
Reading books on sound design provides a theoretical foundation and introduces students to different design principles and techniques.
Show steps
-
Choose a book on sound design to read
-
Read the book and take notes on key concepts and techniques
Experiment with sound design software
Show steps
Experimenting with sound design software allows students to explore different techniques and styles of sound design, and become familiar with industry-standard tools.
Browse courses on
Sound Design
Show steps
-
Choose a sound design software to explore
-
Follow tutorials and documentation to learn the basics of the software
-
Experiment with different sound design techniques using the software
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Participate in a discussion board
Show steps
Participating in a discussion board allows students to engage with the course material and exchange ideas with their peers and learn from their perspectives.
Show steps
-
Read the assigned reading materials
-
Formulate your own thoughts and ideas on the topic
-
Participate in the discussion board by posting your thoughts and responding to others
Build a sound library
Show steps
Building a sound library provides valuable experience with sound design and organization, and contributes to the student's portfolio.
Browse courses on
Sound Design
Show steps
-
Determine the purpose and theme of the sound library
-
Record, gather, and edit sounds
-
Organize and categorize the sounds
-
Create metadata and documentation for the sound library
Design a sound map
Show steps
Creating a sound map not only provides practical experience but also fosters creativity and problem-solving skills.
Browse courses on
Sound Design
Show steps
-
Choose a location or environment to map
-
Record sounds from the location
-
Organize and edit the recorded sounds
-
Create a map or visualization that represents the soundscape
Compose a sound installation
Show steps
Composing a sound installation offers hands-on experience with sound design and encourages students to think creatively about the use of sound in space.
Browse courses on
Sound Design
Show steps
-
Develop a concept for the sound installation
-
Gather and create sounds for the installation
-
Design and set up the installation space
-
Present and share the sound installation
Attend a sound design workshop
Show steps
Attending a sound design workshop offers hands-on experience and exposure to industry professionals, allowing students to learn from experts and gain practical insights.
Browse courses on
Sound Design
Show steps
-
Research and find sound design workshops to attend
-
Register and attend the workshop
-
Actively participate and engage in the workshop activities
Review basic acoustics and psychoacoustics
Show steps
Reviewing basic acoustics and psychoacoustics strengthens the student's understanding of the fundamental principles of sound and how it is perceived.
Browse courses on
Acoustics
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Review notes or online resources on basic acoustics
- Review notes or online resources on psychoacoustics
Read a book on sound design
Show steps
Reading books on sound design provides a theoretical foundation and introduces students to different design principles and techniques.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a book on sound design to read
- Read the book and take notes on key concepts and techniques
Experiment with sound design software
Show steps
Experimenting with sound design software allows students to explore different techniques and styles of sound design, and become familiar with industry-standard tools.
Browse courses on
Sound Design
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a sound design software to explore
- Follow tutorials and documentation to learn the basics of the software
- Experiment with different sound design techniques using the software
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Participate in a discussion board
Show steps
Participating in a discussion board allows students to engage with the course material and exchange ideas with their peers and learn from their perspectives.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the assigned reading materials
- Formulate your own thoughts and ideas on the topic
- Participate in the discussion board by posting your thoughts and responding to others
Build a sound library
Show steps
Building a sound library provides valuable experience with sound design and organization, and contributes to the student's portfolio.
Browse courses on
Sound Design
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Determine the purpose and theme of the sound library
- Record, gather, and edit sounds
- Organize and categorize the sounds
- Create metadata and documentation for the sound library
Design a sound map
Show steps
Creating a sound map not only provides practical experience but also fosters creativity and problem-solving skills.
Browse courses on
Sound Design
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a location or environment to map
- Record sounds from the location
- Organize and edit the recorded sounds
- Create a map or visualization that represents the soundscape
Compose a sound installation
Show steps
Composing a sound installation offers hands-on experience with sound design and encourages students to think creatively about the use of sound in space.
Browse courses on
Sound Design
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Develop a concept for the sound installation
- Gather and create sounds for the installation
- Design and set up the installation space
- Present and share the sound installation
Attend a sound design workshop
Show steps
Attending a sound design workshop offers hands-on experience and exposure to industry professionals, allowing students to learn from experts and gain practical insights.
Browse courses on
Sound Design
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research and find sound design workshops to attend
- Register and attend the workshop
- Actively participate and engage in the workshop activities
Career center
Learners who complete Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Sound Designer
Sound Designer
Sound Designers create and manipulate sounds for a variety of purposes, including movies, video games, and theater productions. This course in Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools will help aspiring Sound Designers build a strong foundation in sound design principles and techniques. The course covers topics such as sound mapping, sound layering, and sound evaluation, which are essential skills for any Sound Designer to master. By taking this course, aspiring Sound Designers can gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in this field.
Sound Artist
Sound Artist
Sound Artists create and manipulate sounds for artistic purposes, which often involves experimenting with different sound design techniques. This course on Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools may be helpful for aspiring Sound Artists to learn more about sound design principles and techniques. By understanding the concepts and techniques of sound design, Sound Artists can expand their creative toolkit and develop new and innovative ways to express themselves through sound.
Audiologist
Audiologist
Audiologists diagnose and treat hearing and balance disorders, which involves a deep understanding of sound and its effects on the auditory system. This course on Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools may be helpful for aspiring Audiologists to learn more about sound principles and their applications in the field of audiology. By understanding the concepts and techniques of sound design, Audiologists can make more informed decisions about the diagnosis and treatment of their patients.
Multimedia Artist
Multimedia Artist
Multimedia Artists create and combine different forms of media, such as sound, images, and video, to create artistic works. This course on Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools may be helpful for aspiring Multimedia Artists to learn more about sound design principles and techniques. By understanding how sounds can be designed to evoke emotions and create immersive experiences, Multimedia Artists can expand their creative toolkit and create more engaging and memorable works of art.
Game Audio Designer
Game Audio Designer
Game Audio Designers create and implement sound effects and music for video games, which involves understanding how sound can enhance the gameplay experience. This course on Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools may be helpful for aspiring Game Audio Designers to learn more about sound design principles and techniques. By understanding how sounds can be designed to elicit specific responses from players, Game Audio Designers can create more engaging and immersive gaming experiences.
Creative Technologist
Creative Technologist
Creative Technologists use technology to create innovative and engaging experiences, which can involve using sound to enhance the user experience. This course on Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools may be helpful for aspiring Creative Technologists to learn more about sound design principles and techniques. By understanding how sounds can be designed to create immersive and interactive experiences, Creative Technologists can create more engaging and innovative products and services.
Acoustical Engineer
Acoustical Engineer
Acoustical Engineers design and develop systems to control and improve sound quality, which involves a deep understanding of sound principles. This course on Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools may be helpful for aspiring Acoustical Engineers to learn more about sound design and its applications. By understanding the concepts and techniques of sound design, Acoustical Engineers can make more informed decisions about the design and implementation of their systems.
Interaction Designer
Interaction Designer
Interaction Designers create and design interactive experiences for users, which can involve using sound to enhance the user experience. This course on Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools may be helpful for aspiring Interaction Designers to learn more about sound design principles and techniques. By understanding how sounds can be designed to guide users and make interactions more intuitive, Interaction Designers can create more engaging and user-friendly experiences.
Music Producer
Music Producer
Music Producers oversee the recording and production of music, which involves making decisions about sound design. This Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools course can serve as a helpful resource for aspiring Music Producers to learn more about sound design principles and techniques. By understanding how sounds can be designed to elicit specific responses from listeners, Music Producers can make more informed decisions about the sounds they use in their own productions.
Music Therapist
Music Therapist
Music Therapists use music to improve the physical, emotional, and cognitive health of their clients, which can involve designing and using sounds to create therapeutic experiences. This course on Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools may be helpful for aspiring Music Therapists to learn more about sound design principles and techniques. By understanding how sounds can be designed to elicit specific responses from listeners, Music Therapists can create more effective therapeutic experiences for their clients.
User Experience (UX) Designer
User Experience (UX) Designer
User Experience (UX) Designers focus on creating products and services that are easy to use and enjoyable to interact with, which can involve designing sound experiences. This course on Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools may be helpful for aspiring UX Designers to learn more about sound design principles and techniques. By understanding how sounds can be designed to guide users and enhance their experience, UX Designers can create more user-friendly and satisfying products and services.
Digital Marketing Manager
Digital Marketing Manager
Digital Marketing Managers plan and execute marketing campaigns across digital channels, which can involve using sound to create engaging and memorable experiences. This course on Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools may be helpful for aspiring Digital Marketing Managers to learn more about sound design principles and techniques. By understanding how sounds can be designed to attract attention and convey messages, Digital Marketing Managers can create more effective marketing campaigns and reach their target audience more effectively.
Data Scientist
Data Scientist
Data Scientists analyze and interpret data to extract insights and make predictions, which can involve using sound to represent data. This course on Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools may be helpful for aspiring Data Scientists to learn more about sound design principles and techniques. By understanding how sounds can be designed to represent data in a clear and concise way, Data Scientists can create more effective data visualizations and communicate their findings more effectively.
Audio Engineer
Audio Engineer
Audio Engineers work with the technology of sound, which often involves understanding how a variety of sounds can affect audiences. This course on Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools will help build a foundation for aspiring Audio Engineers by teaching sound design principles. These principles can be applied to designing sounds for a variety of purposes, such as creating sound effects for movies or designing soundscapes for video games. Gaining knowledge about sound design may also help Audio Engineers to successfully collaborate with creatives in these fields.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Speech-Language Pathologist
Speech-Language Pathologists assess and treat individuals with speech, language, and swallowing disorders, which can involve using sound to improve communication skills. This course on Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools may be helpful for aspiring Speech-Language Pathologists to learn more about sound and its role in communication. By understanding the principles of sound design, Speech-Language Pathologists can develop more effective treatment plans for their clients.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/5uhr8e/sound
Reading list
We've selected 13 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the field of sonic interaction design, covering topics such as sound design, auditory displays, and multimodal interaction. It valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about this emerging field.
Practical guide to sound design for interactive media. It covers a wide range of topics, from sound effects and music to voiceover and sound mixing. It valuable resource for anyone interested in learning how to create effective sound designs for interactive experiences.
Save
Comprehensive guide to the art and science of sound design. It covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of sound to advanced techniques for creating immersive sound experiences.
Comprehensive guide to sound effects. It includes over 1,000 sound effects, as well as information on how to create and use sound effects in your own projects.
Comprehensive guide to sound synthesis and sampling. It covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of sound synthesis to advanced techniques for creating complex sounds.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the psychology of music. It covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of music perception to the effects of music on our emotions and behavior.
Save
Explores the relationship between music and the brain. It covers a wide range of topics, from the neural basis of music perception to the effects of music on our health and well-being.
Save
This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the field of music psychology. It covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of music perception to the effects of music on our emotions and behavior.
Save
This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the field of auditory research. It covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of auditory perception to the effects of sound on our health and well-being.
This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the field of music and emotion. It covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of music perception to the effects of music on our emotions and behavior.
This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the field of sound studies. It covers a wide range of topics, from the history of sound to the uses of sound in art and culture.
Save
This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the field of sound art. It covers a wide range of topics, from the history of sound art to the uses of sound art in contemporary culture.
Save
This companion provides a comprehensive overview of the field of sounding art. It covers a wide range of topics, from the history of sounding art to the uses of sounding art in contemporary culture.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/5uhr8e/sound
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Level
Intermediate
Via
Coursera
Institutions
University of Colorado Boulder
Georgia Institute of Technology
Instructors
Emily Moore
Brianna J. Tomlinson
Bruce N. Walker
Language
English
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