Visual Literacy: What is it? According to the Journals article Picture Perfect: Teaching to Visual Literacy, it is literacy using images and/or videos instead of words.
This information is a concept I unconsciously knew about but did not know how to put my finger on describing it; much less being able to integrate it into the classroom setting.
As I was reading this article, three questions came to my mind.
The first question which came to mind is what is the difference between using words and using pictures/videos?
A second question I asked myself is why do I as a teacher need to be, as they say, “one step ahead of the game” when it comes to knowing the different types of visual literacy devices that are offered?
The third and final question that arose was what would be the benefits of integrating visual literacy in my lesson plans as apposed to not using it at all?
At this time, I will give the answers to the above questions. In my answers I will add the method I would use to carry out this aspect of visual literacy.
The answer to question 1, the difference question, is simple. A picture says a thousand words all by its self. Using pictures and images brings a long list of words to the mind of the viewer. Pictures are not the only part of visual literacy available for teachers. Videos also aid in bringing the same list of words to the minds of the viewers. This can be used in a presentation, a drill-and-practice, or a discussion. The presentation and drill-and–practice are behaviorisms and the discussion is a constructivism. In the presentation, I can use a video or picture show to bring the right descriptions I wish them to learn. With the drill-and-practice, I can use the results of the presentation and have them practice writing down the list of words. Finally, they will discuss the list of words which came to mind and see how many words they all had.
To answer question 2, the ‘why’ question, is the key to any teacher, not just me. Being able to have a plethora of resources to use for the many different learning types that will come into my care. This can be used in a problem solving situation, gaming, and cooperative learning. The problem solving situation and the cooperative learning are constructivism and the gaming is a behaviorism. In the problem solving situation, I will give the students a certain situation in which they would need to solve a certain problem. In the gaming and cooperative learning the students will have to work together and learn from each other as they play a certain game using some sort of visual literacy.
Answering question 3, the integrating into lesson plans question, is the one answer that I think hits the nail on the head. Being able to understand the difference between literacy and visual literacy is something every person can retain in their memory system. As teachers, we all are required to be able to know the different types of teaching aids are available to us. But to be able to take these two aspects and actually put them into action in the classroom is a different matter entirely. When you assign a student to read a certain amount of text they are more than likely to not be able to retain a large percentage of the information. Allowing them to see the information in the form of a picture or video will allow them to remember the information; storing it not only in their short term memory but also in their long term memory as well. This can be used in every aspect of different types of methods. The main methods would be discovery, demonstration, and gaming. Discovery is constructivism. Gaming and demonstration are behaviorism. Discovery is an important aspect of lesson integration. Making your lessons intriguing allows the students to attempt to figure out the answers themselves, leading to discovery. Demonstration has its advantages in that you as the teacher demonstrate the best way for the students to discover by showing or giving them the tools to make the discoveries themselves. Finally, gaming is another tool used in integrating your lessons of visual literacy with your class is that the visual aspects of different video games or physical games you create will help them to relate the information with the pictures in the game.
This blog post has answered the questions I have asked. I hope that, in a way, this post has brought questions to your own mind.
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