Learning Theory Online Course Interface Design

Interface design is the channel through which learners make interactions in web-based instruction. The paper first summarizes different learning theories including Cognitivism Learning Theory; Constructivism Learning Theory; Behavioral Learning Theory to draw the fundamental principles of interface design for web-based courses. And then the paper discusses the composition design method of web-based lessons from layout design methods and picture-character design methods and the constituent design of web-based lessons from navigation design; character design; picture design and color design. With a new designed interface for a web-based course of Moral Education Theory, the fundamental principles are implemented and designing theories will be verified through collecting data from questionnaires. The proven principles of interface design are listed as follows:First, designer should follow the principle of block placement so that learner can apperceive the information in the interface while the principle of consistency and flexibility should also be applied to keep the consistency of the interface design while minimizing learners'cognitive burden. And to stabilize the attention, the optimization grouping principle should also be brought to attention.Second, to help learners obtain information from the interface, designer should apply the visual hierarchy design to the interface, that is, to direct learners'attention to the need information from the integrated structure; information structure and content object of the interface design.Lastly, designer should properly arrange the media constituents in the interface including text; picture; background; color, etc.