Aristotle once stated that, "without image, thinking is impossible". Everything humans understand started as an image. As we first learned to read, letters started as images. These images then came together and helped us understand words as a whole. The process continues as we learn new works because in order to understand a new word, we must be able to create images to help us understand the meaning of the word. It is amazing how our brains work. Words then become images and in reality we picture the final outcome of the work without completely sounding out each letter. A study held by Cambrige University proved this point.
When I think about visual literacy, I think about one of those crazy infomercials that are on in the middle of the night that although may be boring, you can't change the channel. This infomercial showed babies reading even before they could speak. the main concept of the program had children relating words to images. For example: As you show the baby a picture of a cat, you also introduce them to the text. After continually introducing the child to the word in different forms, they can relate them with one another. Images continue to help our children grow and progress with their literacy skills because they allow our children to relate these words with images that they are used to in their everyday lives.
After children learn to read they can use what they have learned to help them become better classroom learners. Visual literacy is used within the classroom in many ways. Many times teachers use models to help give the students an idea of what is expected of them. These models usually relate with directions that are given in text form. As students are given a visual model, they can then picture their own final product within their minds. Posters and other classroom visuals can be constant reminders to students of how to complete certain math problems, writings, and more. Within the district I teach, teachers are required to cover all visuals during state testing. I constantly remind my students to envision what is behind the cover if they ever get stuck on a problem within the test. Within my classroom, I like to show my students visuals constantly, because many times visuals relate to everyday life. Students must be able to relate text and images so they will not have a misguided interpretation of what they are learning. Many times if I am teaching a particular subject I like to relate what we have read by watching short video clips, or by taking a virtual field trip. These visuals can relate to what we have read, and give the students a new perspective on what we have learned. Visual literacy can help students to learn how to be better students and help their study skills within the future. I can remember when I first took the test to receive my learners permit. I studied the book many times and memorized the text. The main problem was that the last question on the test had a picture of a Do Not Enter sign. As we all know, these signs do not have text. In order to get this question correct, I had to relate the text that I memorized to the images that were provided. Images without text can many times be a major part of our lives. Children must be able to take what they have learned within the classroom to help them relate images to text and vice versa.
As I continue to use the Internet with the students within my classroom, I can only hope they retain the valuable information and use what they have learned in the future. Within my classroom, my students use the Internet to research, create, and collaborate. I expect my students to use the Internet responsibly and constantly remind them of the do's and dont's of web surfing. As my career goes on and I continue to become more technologically advanced, I want the Internet to be a major part of my curriculum. The Internet has an endless amount of valuable resources that can give my students a new perspective on what they have learned.
The field of Instructional Technology is not founded solely within the field of Education. Much of the research in Instructional Technology is based in Communications theory. Visual literacy is a term that is based within the Communications field. Visual literacy includes the comprehension of visual media using diagrams, graphs, and diagrams as a form of presenting data. The study of visual literacy also examines how visuals enhance the cognitive abilities of learners using specific properties of the visuals including spatial relationships, composition, and color. Additionally, visual literacy examines an awareness of visual manipulation, distortion, and misinformation in advertising and propaganda.
ReplyDeleteSince the early 1990’s, the Internet has evolved into a visual media tool unsurpassed by any other visual learning technology (photos, diagrams, videos, etc…). Broadband communications has enhanced the Internet’s capacity to present visual media, concurrent with the expansion of the recent emergence of social networking where visual media is shared. With so much media blazing past us, it is important that teachers balance the use of visual media or teaching and learning with an awareness that visual media is not all accurate and true. The power of television and film images can create an almost utopian world of objects and events creating an illusion of reality that draws us in.
Visual literacy must couple the use of visual media of all kinds with an understanding of how visual media constructs meaning for the learner, while advocating careful review of the elements that make up the image in order to enhance understanding and appreciation or to promote critical viewing skills.
DrE