A goal in writing this paper is for
instructional designers to consider using digital
time-compression to reduce the amount of time
learners will spend on a learning task while not
depressing important learning outcomes (e.g.,
recall, recognition, problem solving, cognitive
load, satisfaction). Whether you believe it or
not, this technology has already been widely
adopted in advertising and most people have
heard time-compressed audio as broadcasters
compress audio clips to increase the number of
advertisements they can air on their programs
(e.g., Moore, Hausknecht, & Thamodaran, 1986).
Thus, the implications of this technology and its
use are large. The time savings alone is reason
enough to consider compressing narration.
Even a 5% compression of narration across a
company training many people could lead to
significant dollars saved. As a result, this paper
aims at the practitioner in our field to consider
using this technology in their products, but with
caution. We have, therefore, developed a set of
eight design principles to guide instructional
designers on the use of this technology based on
our previous research.