Visual Literacy is the way which we can decipher a story by looking at pictures, signs, videos or listening to audio by using higher-order thinking skills. Having the ability to do this lets the student figure out on their own what is the reasonable conclusion. When teachers use PowerPoint, YouTube, Prezi, and other forms of technology and media they are showing students how to think above and beyond the box. This is a time when the teacher must take into consideration how much the internet is going to be utilized in the classroom. The teacher can plan lessons that combine lecture and internet but remember that the students need to continue to grasp the fundamentals as outlined by the state and school district.
Students can listen to audio to figure out what the meaning of the story is; how the narrator may look and feel; what caused the audio to be created. Looking at pictures in a series allows students to tell the story in their own words. Visual Literacy overall allows for students to ask questions that they may not have thought to ask before viewing. Visual Literacy is different from the teacher lecturing because it creates an environment for engagment where students are having discussions among themselves and learning how to be socially strong. Also with Visual Literacy, the teacher is using student-centered strategy that allows for students to formulate questions and scenarios related to what they have seen. It also ignites the excitement for wanting to learn more through research.
In order to allow for students to research and create their own visual literacy project, it will require using the internet in a productive manner. With many lessons now moving from traditional pen, paper; it is important to explain the expectations for creating projects and doing research using the internet. The teacher can do this in various formats from using multimedia presentations (PowerPoint,Prezi,Linoit) to sharing the expectations in posters using Glogster, Wordle, etc.
The use of these technology tools will not only play an important part in illustrating how to do the project but it will also serve as an example of what the student project can look like. This is not to say that the teacher ceases to give instruction but when you give lessons with graphics, audio, still photography, you will have students who are more eager to learn and look forward to working on the assignment/project.
Blog 2 prompt: Mod 4
ReplyDeleteHow can visual literacy and the use of the Internet impact the teaching and learning process in the classroom? What are some visual-thinking strategies you would like to use in your classroom? What role do you want the Internet play in your classroom?
We are a media-centric society. As a result, students a saturated with information that may or may not be accurate and unbiased. We communicate and share information in many ways; verbally, textually, physically, using letters, words, colors, images and numbers. Understanding to interpret and use the methods of communications is a key part of what we do in Education, from the early years an through college and beyond. Visual literacy is a life-long skill.
Yes, we live in free democratic society in the west, but as the information to which we have access is more globalized (via the Internet), the information comes from a wide range sources and perspectives. Information is available at our fingertips today. No question there. What does that mean? It means that we can get information easily and the Information Age is quickly being replaced by the Knowledge Age. In the Knowledge Age, we need to be able to evaluate the reliability of information sources and establish where information may fall along the bias continuum line. These are the skills that our students need to be learning. This is also part of working with and teaching visual literacy.
Visual literacy crosses all academic areas and grade levels. It includes skills to interpret and appreciate various languages and cultures around the world. We are just scratching the surface of what visual literacy means to each of us who work in the area of education and communications.
DrE