Visual Literacy Staff Visual Literacy Staff Development PresentationDevelopment Presentation

Kipps Elementary SchoolKipps Elementary School

November 2009November 2009

Presented by Juliane Meek Presented by Juliane Meek

What is visual literacy?What is visual literacy?

If you can read a map, draw a diagram If you can read a map, draw a diagram or interpret symbols like or interpret symbols like

ororthen you are visually literate. then you are visually literate.

Visual literacy is the reading and writing of visual Visual literacy is the reading and writing of visual texts.texts.

Visual literacy is defined as the ability to Visual literacy is defined as the ability to understand, use, and create with images understand, use, and create with images effectively (Braden, 1996)effectively (Braden, 1996)

Why learn visual literacy?Why learn visual literacy?

Many information texts use visual elementsMany information texts use visual elements Visual texts are accessible to all readersVisual texts are accessible to all readers Visual texts are complex, multilayered textsVisual texts are complex, multilayered texts Visual texts communicate certain information Visual texts communicate certain information

more clearly than verbal textsmore clearly than verbal texts Students need practice in choosing the Students need practice in choosing the

appropriate text useappropriate text use Visual texts are widely used in the electronic Visual texts are widely used in the electronic

mediamedia Visual texts can help with comprehensionVisual texts can help with comprehension Visual texts can help with planning anVisual texts can help with planning an essayessay Visual literacy is a life skillVisual literacy is a life skill

Using Visual LiteracyUsing Visual Literacy

Visual literacy has practical uses Visual literacy has practical uses across the curriculum.across the curriculum.

Visual text makes its meaning with images, Visual text makes its meaning with images, or with meaningful patterns.or with meaningful patterns.

Here are a few visual texts which can used Here are a few visual texts which can used to convey information.to convey information.

Block diagram with cutawaysBlock diagram with cutaways

Cutaway diagram Cutaway diagram

Diagram with color Diagram with color codingcoding

Flow ChartsFlow Charts

Compare and ContrastCompare and Contrast

Comprehension TableComprehension Table

http://k-8visual.info/recomposing.html

http://www.pcfonts.comhttp://www.pcfonts.com

Instructional TypographyInstructional Typography

The The artart and and sciencescience of using of using individual individual lettersletters, , wordswords, and , and passagespassages of of texttext to to

conveyconvey an an instructional instructional message. message.

YummyYummyBloodBloodSnowSnowFlameFlameAngerAnger

http://cooltext.comhttp://cooltext.com

What to Think About for InstructionWhat to Think About for Instruction

Consider the size and color of the textConsider the size and color of the text Make sure the font color you choose is easy to read Make sure the font color you choose is easy to read

and see against the background color you have and see against the background color you have chosenchosen

The content of your visual lesson is more important The content of your visual lesson is more important than the overall color scheme.than the overall color scheme.

StoneStone

The Power of TypeThe Power of Type

Create chunks of information to Create chunks of information to facilitate comprehension, understanding facilitate comprehension, understanding directions, procedures, etc. directions, procedures, etc.

Complex type can express emotion, Complex type can express emotion, enhance a messageenhance a message

Type has organizational and Type has organizational and communicative powercommunicative power

Facilitates contrast, alignment, Facilitates contrast, alignment, repetition, and proximity repetition, and proximity

Square SerifSquare Serif Very readableVery readable Great for reading Great for reading

large passages of large passages of texttext

Widely used in Widely used in educational educational materialsmaterials

Often darker than Often darker than othersothers

CenturyCentury

GeorgiaGeorgia

What is the Best to Use?What is the Best to Use?Sans Serif Sans Serif

Very legibleVery legible A bold sans serif A bold sans serif

typeface used in typeface used in conjunction with a conjunction with a lighter font provides lighter font provides excellent contrast; excellent contrast; facilitates “chunking”facilitates “chunking”

Great for headingsGreat for headingsFranklin GothicFranklin Gothic

TrebuchetTrebuchet

Verdana Verdana

Shape Tools and ColorShape Tools and Color Shape can be used to communicate Shape can be used to communicate

instructional information. Simple shapes instructional information. Simple shapes such as circles, squares, and lines help such as circles, squares, and lines help learners see relationships , directions, and learners see relationships , directions, and sequence.sequence.

Color has an instructional impact and is Color has an instructional impact and is useful for creating mood, drawing useful for creating mood, drawing attention, and organizing information into attention, and organizing information into groups.groups.

It Depends Rule…It Depends Rule… The LearnerThe Learner ContextContext The TaskThe Task DevelopmentDevelopment EnvironmentEnvironment Other elements in the visualOther elements in the visual Your skills and abilities Your skills and abilities

Resources Used:Resources Used: http://k-8visualliteracy.comhttp://k-8visualliteracy.com Creating Graphics for Learning and Performance , Lessons Creating Graphics for Learning and Performance , Lessons

in Visual Literacy Textbookin Visual Literacy Textbook www.cooltext.comwww.cooltext.com

Additional Resources:Additional Resources: PC FontsPC Fonts Classroom clipartClassroom clipart 3-D Text Maker3-D Text Maker Fun PowerPoint's for Classroom teachersFun PowerPoint's for Classroom teachers Visual Literacy IdeasVisual Literacy Ideas 1001 Uses for a Digital Camera 1001 Uses for a Digital Camera Interactive WebsitesInteractive Websites National Library of Virtual Manipulatives National Library of Virtual Manipulatives