Due to the impact of visuals on our memory, on our emotions, on our motivations, and priorities, students can become very engaged with what they are learning through visuals. We can stimulate both critical thinking and creative thinking through images and other visual aids.
“Again and again…creative minds explain their creative thought generation in terms of visual imagery and their reliance on mental images as springboards for extending their understanding well beyond the parameters of verbal language.” Ann Barry, Boston College.
In this workshop, faculty are introduced to current cognitive research and information on visual literacy and media literacy, followed by an overview of the tools and activities that can be used to fulfill different learning outcomes.
Presentation: Visualization and Visual Literacy
Prezi presentation on using visual media in a course
“Visual Explorer” exercise, described by Palus and Draft in the reflective practice article “Putting Something in the Middle”
Visuals diagnostic tool for instructors’ use to help decide on what visual resources to use in a class
Guidelines for Using Visuals and How to Use Visuals for Better PowerPoint
Visual Resource Table:
Bibliography on Visuals and Cognition
Online papers:
“The Visual Literacy White Paper” by Dr. Ann Bamford, University of Technology, Sydney
“The Eyes Know It? Training the Eyes: A Theory of Visual Literacy” by Ari Santas and Lisa Eaker
“Jump Starting Visual Literacy: Thoughts on Image Selection” by Philip Yenawine
“Visual Literacy in Higher Education” by Ron Bleed (Educause)
“Solutions to the Problem of Over-Plotting in Graphs” by Stephen Few
“Educause Top Teaching and Learning Challenges of 2009″ by Julie K. Little, et al.
View a SlideShare on Visual Literacy
Taimi Olsen 2011