Week 11 Posting
What is visual literacy? Where and when is it learned? Why is it important?
When you read a textbook or read a newspaper, most of what you are taking in is text. For some classes and areas of study, this may be sufficient. In other areas, where a description is required, a diagram or picture may be required to explain the text better. Such visuals help in aiding the learning process. The ability to interpret visual aids and other visual diagrams is called visual literacy.
Some examples of visuals include real objects (which are like rocks, stamps, animals, or actual objects), models (such as solar system kits, teaching kits, human anatomy figurines), exhibits (dioramas, book displays, artificial mountain range setting), print materials (books, worksheets, handouts, etc.) and graphics and photographs (drawings, photographs, Venn diagrams, etc.) Graphics and photographs are especially good because it shows how things were in the past as cameras took them, though the quality was not as good then as they are now. Real objects are great in that it lets children see objects up close and personal.
Children learn visual literacy skills mostly in school, and as they progress through the grade levels in school, the maturity of their visual literacy skills grow as well. In elementary school, perhaps they can associate a picture of a dog with a real dog. As they progress to middle school, they will learn more complex picture and diagram skills, to the point that whey they are in high school, they can follow higher level complex flow charts and Venn diagrams.
These skills are important to learn so that when they graduate from school (and hopefully college), they will have strong deciphering and organizational skills. When they get jobs in the workforce, they will need to be able to follow a flow chart and take directions from a list of objectives. Jobs that require some sort of construction really need these kind of skills, where they have to follow a blueprint. It also builds on their problem solving skills, where they can benefit in all aspects of life. Problem solving skills can help them with their finances and organize their life better as well.
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2 comments:
Great explanation of visual literacy. As the chapter points out, visuals are, for most learners, a necessity. It has been said, "Seeing is believing." It might also be said that "Seeing is learning."
I agree with you about how children as they mature can learn visualization skills but also lets not forget about Gardners Multiple Intelligence Theory that talks about such skills as actually being an intelligence, an intelligence that some kids are just born with.
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