Visual Literacy and the Internet in the Classroom

How can visual literacy and the use of the Internet impact the teaching and learning process in the classroom?

It plays a vital role in the development of student’s learning. Visual literacy allows students to learn visually with images and videos, some connected to text and some not, in many aspects (Smaldino, Lowther, Russell, Chapter 3). I, personally, learn best this way. It is imperative that students have these visual aids to assist them in the understanding of complex concepts. For example, the fingers to utilize when keyboarding are color coded and permits student’s to grasp the notion in the brain and recall it at a faster speed. Jointly with the internet, the possibilities are endless. The internet has become a resource that allows students to learn anything at the reach of their fingertips. (Smaldino, Lowther, Russell, page 183). With that said, student’s internet experience allows students to learn in a variety of ways and with diverse opportunities such as distance learning, online resources, virtual field trips, file sharing, simulations; the list goes on and on.

What are some visual-thinking strategies you would like to use in your classroom? Utilizing visual literacy in dissimilar ways such as paintings, images, videos, simulations, presentations, tutorials where one role would be to introduce/model the concept, after that, promote high-order thinking skills.

What role do you want the Internet play in your classroom? I want the internet to be the ultimate resource wherein students can enhance the taught concepts in the classroom. As an example, I teach Tech Knowledge in my classroom and those students who are fortunate to have internet at home practice and further on their learning. Practice makes perfect. This is one role that I want the internet to continue to play in my classroom. There are many more.

References

Burmark Presentation. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2010, from http://www.tcpd.org/Burmark/Presentations/VisualLiteracy.html.

Smaldino, S.E., Lowther, D.L., Russell, J.D. (2008). Instructional Technology and Media for Learning. Columbus, OH. Merrill Prentice Hall.