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!