What is visual literacy? Why
is it important for K-12 eLearning?
Visual literacy is the
“learned ability to interpret visual messages accurately and to create such
message” (Smaldino, Russell, & Lowther, 2008, p. 136). Like literacy learning (reading and writing
of the verbal message), visual literacy is the seeing of the image to aid in
learning. There are seven learning styles (http://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/). A person may be more of an auditory learner, yet
even they benefit from visuals to help them understand certain concepts.
There are two approaches in
visual literacy – input and output strategies. Helping learners decode, read
the visual, is the input strategy. Helping learners write or deliver the visual
is the output strategy.
An educator should not assume
just because there is a visual component, that the learner will be able to
successfully understand the visual. The learner must be guided through the
correct decoding of the visual. They must be taught the skill of interpreting
visuals. An educator should realize that younger children often interpret the
images more literally than older children; these children do not interpret
visuals as a whole, but rather section by section. Older students can summarize
the whole image and draw a conclusion about the visual’s meaning. Younger
children need more realistic visuals compared to older children who can handle
more abstract visuals.
An educator should also
consider the learner’s cultural background when teaching. A Native American
student can interpret scenes of the Old West differently than a Mexican
American, African American, or Caucasian.
A colorful photograph might
look beautiful and realistic; however, it may not be the best visual for
learning. Learners do prefer photos over drawings. If the lesson is about to
show the parts of a flower, a photograph, even though it might be close-up of
the flower and very beautiful, might not be the best option. It would be better
to have a detailed drawing of a flower. By using the visual students develop
their visual ability.
Visuals can help students in
the learning process; sequencing is an important skill to acquire. Using
visuals can help the students put events/objects in a logical order. When
learning story structure (beginning, middle, and end), a student can use visual
images of the story or phrases of the story events that were placed on file
cards and manipulate the cards to place the cards in the correct sequence
order.
Visuals are important in the
K-12 eLearning as it provides concrete reference for ideas, makes abstract
ideas concrete, draws the learner’s attention and thinking to the important
parts of the visual (done may color, word, arrows, icons, shading, and
animation), reiterates important information that may have been presented
verbally or written, allows for recall of prior learning, and can simply the
learning of complex topic (e.g., a diagram of the water cycle can help a
student understand this complex cycle).
The type of visuals has an
impact as well. A visual can be realistic, analogical, organizational,
relational, transformational, and interpretive. A photograph, such of a photo
of a covered wagon, is more realist than a verbal explanation of a covered
wagon. How the visual is designed and laid out play an important role in
interpretation of the visual. Referencing the Periodic Table of Visualization (http://www.visual-literacy.org/periodic_table/periodic_table.html)
can be very beneficial. This table provides ideas for visuals broken down into
data, information, concept, strategy, metaphor, and compound visuals. The
visuals can then delivered using as complex delivery as necessary – paper,
electronic flat image, 3D object, to an interactive image.
Visuals are very important in the K-12 eLearning environment
since visuals can enhance the learning. With today’s emphasizes on assessments,
especially state standardized testing, the use of multimedia can impact test
scores. Studies by Levie and Lentz have shown that test scores increased by 36
percent; Richard Mayer’s study has shown that test scores increased by 42
percent (Supporting Research). When sights, sounds, and
text are combined the learner’s retention level can be up 80 percent
(Supporting Research).
With today’s technology
visuals are part of our everyday. Students are exposed to television, smart
phones, tablets, games, and World Wide Web – all chalk full of visuals. One should
remember, however, that a visual does not have to be complex and expensive. A
simple stick figure drawing may be able to convey the same message as a
photograph. Drawings on paper, poster boards, or chalk boards are relatively
inexpensive compared to drawing the image using a computer program or an
interactive whiteboard.
Works Cited
Smaldino, S., Russell, J. D., & Lowther, D. L.
(2008). Instructional Technology and Media for Learning. Upper Saddle
River: Pearson Custom Publishing.
Supporting Research from
Integrating Media into the Classroom:
Theory and Research [Video File].
Retrieved from http://digital.films.com/play/6ER6PE)
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