The basic definition of reading and writing is the ability to read, write and create visual, both vertical and motion pictures. It is a concept related to art and design but also has a very wide range of applications. Visual learning is about language, communication and interaction.
Let us work on some main activities for effective teaching of visual literacy in the classroom:
1. Caption A Photograph
Images are one of the most common forms of visual media for our readers. Usually the images they see will be accompanied by captions.
For this exercise, give copies of one picture to the class without captions. Their job here is to take a closer look at the picture, either individually or in small groups, before writing captions to accompany the image. When students have finished their captions they can compare their captions with each other before revealing the nature of the image.
The purpose of this activity is to show students how open it is to interpret a single visual image. Students will inform you of the caption capabilities for editing an image description, even if the captions are incorrect.
2. Engage With A Video Game
Video games are immersive, a lot of player experience. This is a big part of their appeal. While written texts may be very appealing to our thinking skills, video games can also appeal to our visual and auditory senses – and now, even touch can be incorporated. Keep focusing on the visual materials in the latter two media.
3. Multi-Modal Comparisons
Encourage students to discuss, write, or prepare a presentation on how a movie or video game translates intangibles from text to visual effects.
4. The Timeline
This activity gives students the opportunity to use that knowledge to create visual texts themselves. Encourage students to plan the most important stages in their lives in the timeline. You may use a combination of pictures and text if this is more in line with your learning goals and student skills. This can also be a useful task to incorporate various aspects of IT skills.