reflection

How does VL fit in with Global Collaboration, PBL & FL?

Can VL enhance the learning in your classroom? How?

I've decided to write one answer in response to both of these questions as for me Visual Literacy is embedded in everything we do. Could I make the teaching of skills related to it more explicit? Yes, starting by a change in mindset and move beyond the thought that it's about making things "look pretty" a phrase both my colleagues and I use on a regular basis. The flippancy and air of sarcasm with which it is said belittles the importance of visual literacy. It's my "thing" to bring the visual to resources in order for them to be more engaging for the user.

For as long as I can remember my father, who was also a teacher, told me that every resource that I put in front of an audience needs to have a visual. This module prompted me to email him and ask where that idea came from. He replied and said "...it’s a “no-brainer” in my opinion. I have no idea who first said a picture is worth a thousand words – perhaps that saying provides the background." He then went on to describe how his love of photography probably influenced him as well, always placing emphasis on the visual whether there was a lens in front of his eye or not. I am not the photographer that my father is but between him and my ex-husband who was a designer my awareness of the aesthetic is very much always on my mind. At high school I excelled at media studies, of which a part was the analysis of film, breaking it down to see the intention and artful choices that were made in this creation.

My drive to make things visual and combine all three media codes together (symbolic, written, and technical) that otherwise may not have been is very much intrinsically motivated and something I do happily and with pride. I feel like I am surrounded by many people who don't see the value in visual literacy so will not take time to instill an appreciation in their students, perhaps seeing it as something the Art teacher does in isolation of the homeroom? Like with anything, placing impetus on visual literacy needs to start first with an awareness.

I hope that I am leading by example with my creation and look for ways to share these examples. My next step is to ensure a more conscious awareness and appreciation in my students so that they can move from consumer to curator to creator in everything we do.