Visual Literacy
The Assignment:
After exploring and researching the topic of Visual Literacy, we were asked to do a few tasks. We were asked to create a visual resume using the tool of our choice. Next, we were to make a statement about what we have learned thus far in our class using Canva. Learning about the Design Principles definitely helped out in our last project, as we used Canva to create a visual that shared one thing we have learned about visual literacy, student agency, being a courageous leader, being an empowered teacher or about our EdTechTeam online cohort.
My Visual Resume was harder than I thought it was going to be! I realized I take a lot of pictures, but when I was asked to put them together, in order to convey a message, well, that was challenging. Looking back, I know this is a work in progress.
Below are two visuals I made using Canva, and I can honestly say, I could spend many hours creating in Canva!
Copy of ONe Dropforever.pdf
Watch the YouTube video to learn more about my Visual Literacy project!
Reflection:
Being visually literate is important for my students because it allows them to be active participants and art directors of their lives. The imaginative process happens with our eyes and being fluent in visual literacy gives people the ability to interpret visual information and communicate effectively. Visual literacy is a universal language we all have the ability to speak, so long as we are taught how to “interpret the content of images, examine social impact of those images, and discuss purpose, audience, and ownership.’ (Sarah Kante)
We live in a digital age and it is no longer an issue of being illiterate, but rather, being digitally and visually illiterate is a travesty. There needs to be a shift in education where we emphasize the importance of these skills, rather than the focus solely being on test scores and fluency. It doesn’t help my students to read quickly if they do not understand what they have read. It does not help my students to sit at a computer and answer questions individually on a state test if we live in a collaborative world. It does not help my students to only learn to read when we live in a time of digital wayfarers. Gestures and images define how my students learn and communicate, so we need to meet them where they are and give them the skill set to communicate effectively through reading, comprehending, and writing visual language.