Sound and Sonification Design for Interactive Learning Tools from Coursera

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.

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.

Sound Design

Module 2 introduces specific mappings and sound characteristics that we can rely on to convey information. We’ll introduce terminology for simple mappings like pitch, timbre, reverberation, and many more. Then we’ll move on to more complex audio mappings, and design considerations for layering sounds in interactive learning tools.

Evaluation

For sound designs, it’s important to understand how your users are interpreting and thinking about the mappings. This module will cover the measurements and question types to consider for evaluation, the different types of evaluations, and how to analyze the data generated in the process. Then, we’ll discuss how to make changes to a sound design using what we learned from evaluations.

Prototyping

Module 4 will introduce different prototyping and design methods for making sounds. We’ll go through a variety of tools that you can use to make sounds, and where to find other sounds you might want to use. We’ll introduce some programmatic ways of creating sounds and discuss how to embed the sounds into prototypes.

Designing Sounds and Sonifications

In this module we review best practices. These will come from previous research and also our own work. We’ll review the full process we suggest for successful sound design. This will also be your chance to put all of your skills into practice, and start using the full process to work on a sound design from end to end.

Putting It All Together

Module 6 will review the content across all lessons, and consider ways for you to integrate the different steps together -- brainstorming designs, planning an evaluation, deciding on an analysis plan, and redesigning. We’ll also review how you can get involved in future projects.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, 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

Reviews summary

Sound design for interactive learning

Learners say this course on sound and sonification design for interactive learning tools is engaging and shares practical sound design principles. However, some learners found some of the simulations and interactions to be buggy.

Engaging content

"Great"

Shares practical sound design principles

"This course still offers some insight into the principles of good sound and user interpretation."

Some simulations were buggy

"The course was a bit boring and a lot of the interactions didn't play the sounds."

"Most of the simulations in the last 2 weeks didn't make any sounds when loaded."

"Also, the last week simulations didn't load what-so-ever."

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 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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