Design Strategies of EFL Learning Videos: Exampled by a China MOOC

With the advancement of information technology and innovation of learning approaches, the development of online learning videos has become an important aspect of contemporary teaching of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). However, there are no systematic design strategies for it. The paper takes EFL learning video development as a process of knowledge visualization, analyzes College Oral English which is a popular China MOOC available at the authentic website iCourse, and summarizes five advantageous features of its learning videos. Then the paper proposes the design strategies from two perspectives: establishing an EFL visual representation framework and formulating visual design principles. The former includes establishing a repository of visual representations, specifying the features of different types of EFL knowledge and establishing a matching table. The latter includes observing the rules of visual attention, setting cognitive load at a reasonable level, building a visual context and improving social presence.