What is Visual Literacy?

Visual Literacy is the ability to recognize and understand ideas conveyed through visible actions or images, as well as to be able to convey ideas or messages through imagery. It is a way for people to produce meaning from information presented in a visual imagery. Images all around the world contain information and ideas and when people are able to interpret and gather the information and ideas in those images, they can place them in context and determine whether they are valid or not. A person can look at an image carefully and critically, and their skills can then be applied to the type of image they are looking at, whether it be a photograph, painting, graphic art, films, maps, or other kinds of charts and graphs. Each different type of visual object gives different information and ideas. Not one thing is the same, and not one person thinks the same.

I think it is necessary for everyone to understand the importance of visual listeracy in our eveyday lives. With visual literacy, we can better interpret art and visual media that we see everyday. Visual literacy allows me to make a deeper connection with what I am looking at/reading, and helps me to understand representation and meaning as a whole. Examining and understanding how text interacts with art allows me to put pictures to what I'm reading. Because of that, I can better understand what I'm looking at, and it definitely makes me enjoy the reading more. I guess I could go on and on about how I feel about visual literacy. What about you?

Why should we use Visual Literacy in a classroom?

“Students need visualization skills to be able to decipher, interpret, detect patterns, and communicate using imagery—especially given the ease with which digitized visuals can be manipulated.” 
-NCREL

 It's really important to use visual literacy in any classroom. A lot of high school students live in the 3D world-- through movies, the internet, or gaming. It is important for us to have the opportunity to create, interpret, problem-solve and communicate using the language of 3D inside a classroom, not just outside. Visuals always enhance classroom instruction. I think we live in a world where we use visual data, and schools need to show students how to look beyond the surface to understand deeper levels of meaning and ideas. How are students going to be able to interpret images and see beyond what is given to them if they are not being taught visual literacy? They can't. Everyday I, along with you I'm sure are bombarded with countless images that we see, but may not completely comprehend.

The first level of visual literacy is basically identifying the subject or elements in a photograph. We use these necessary skills in all the subjects in school. Accurate observations are important, but understanding what we see and comprehending the visual relationships are just as important. I think all these literacy skills require critical thinking. They are a key aspect to a student’s success in a classroom where information is expressed through visual formats like charts, graphs, pictures and texts. I don't understand how teachers can get away with not using visual literacy in their classroom. It's pathetic the amount of people who don't think pictures and texts are important in a classroom, even a mathematics class room!

Visual Literacy outside a classroom?

Look around you. What do you see? I see images, and as I'm looking at those images, I'm really reading it, and understanding the meaning of it. Every day I come across images, both simple and complex, and in those pictures I identify meaning. I am bombarded with symbols daily, and my visual literacy skills helps me to recognize the symbols I see and interpret their meaning. Each day, whether I am driving to school, or walking to work, I see street signs, no parking signs, billboards, and other signs and I know that if I wasn't visual literate I wouldn't know where to go or be able to understand what is going on.

Without commercial logos, how would I be able to recognize my favorite restaurants or the food chains I enjoy going to? I wouldn't be able to identify the different sports teams I enjoy to watch, or find the bathroom in a public place without having signs or logos representing each of these things. Without the sign on the door I wouldn't know where to go at all. I know I rely on the symbols around me to understand where we are going, and I'm sure you do too. I would go crazy if I didn't know how to read this things. 

Visual literacy is everywhere around us. Without it, I know I would be lost on a daily basis.
Visual literacy connects us to others around the world. Like my blog. It'll connect me to others who are advocates for visual literacy. Check out this video I found that shows use of Visual Media through the Internet and cell phone.

I think it shows other important ways we use visual literacy on a daily basis. Obviously, I'm an avid believer in visual literacy and in my opinion I don't know how anyone could not be.

Visual Literacy is all around us...

Visual Literacies are all around us. They are in images, logos, signs, websites, even in gestures given by someone. All of these things are seen visually and contain a meaningful message that is understood by others. We rely on visual literacies when we shop, as we drive, as we're learning in school, and even as we're exploring the internet.

• I don't know how you guys feel, but I think photography helps us to see frozen moments in time. After looking at pictures, I can analyze the events that took place during the picture and create a story about what I see. 

• I think that graphic organizers in class are a great way to use visual literacy to help with the mental organizational skills we all know we should have. For some I'm sure they might be a pain in the neck, but I know they really help me and I think they are a great way to help us remember more.

• As we drive, sign provide us with the information we need when going somewhere we usually don't go to. They prevent us from getting lost, and as long as we know what we're looking for it is easier to find what we need. When we see traffic lights, we have to understand the meaning of each color. 

Challenges with Visual Literacy

Children learn to read pictures before they read words. Unfortunately, once children can read words fluently, visual literacy usually takes a back seat in the child’s lives. Now a days, it's important to continue to help people interpret the visual world around them. From books and television to billboards and animation, students are bombarded with visuals on a daily basis and I think visual literacy is a critical life skill everyone should have.
 

Just as we learn how to read text, we need to learn how to read pictures. It’s so important that students have skills and strategies for reading, interpreting, using, applying and creating visuals.

When reading visuals, we look for clues in the parts and the whole of the picture. I try to identify the subject, plot, and setting so tell what the photo is saying. You and I both know that visual comprehension goes beyond description. It involves explanation and understanding.

After we become confident in reading visuals, we have to start interpreting the visuals and applying them. This could involve retelling, identifying, describing, explaining, and critiquing different visuals.

Let’s think about something for a second, if we are faced with a vocabulary word, don’t you think providing visuals to assist us in remembering the words and definitions will be helpful?? A visual definition can help provide a mental picture for us and help us retain more information.