We are all hungry and thirsty for concrete images.
Salvador Dali
Using Images
Vision is by far our most dominant sense, taking up half of our brain's resources. The more visual the input becomes, the more likely it is to be recognized - and recalled. Text and oral presentations are not just less efficient than pictures for retaining certain types of information; they are way less efficient. If information is presented orally, people remember about 10 percent, tested 72 hours after exposure. That figure goes up to 65 percent if you add a picture.
Wordle: generates “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text.
Strategies for Using Images
Floor Storming: Find direction and videos of a group of teachers working with the strategy and discussing its benefits at thissite.
Sensory Exercises: Quick and easy, tried and true strategies for visualizing.
Coaching Cards: Keep these handy. Donna Anderson and Tammy Reynolds made a mini version for students to keep at their desks.
Building from Clues: This game-like strategy pushes students to ask questions, make connections, access their prior knowledge, talk and think with others, and to build on ideas.
Fact Splash: Put an image that represents the topic in the centre of the page. Have students brainstorm what they know (or have learned) about the topic. As they share out information, create a mind map of images that represent their facts. (ThanksDonna Anderson).
Mind Mapping: This is a strategy that we use often in schools. Although perhaps pen, paper and crayons are still the best way to make them, here are MANYfree digital mind map tools(and other resources). This video from mind mapping guru Tony Buzan reminds us of key elements of this tool to make our thinking visible and visual.
Visual Literacy: Visual literacy is something learned, just as reading and writing are learned. It is very important to have the ability to process visual images efficiently and understand the impact they have on viewers. This sequence of lessons provide teachers with a starting point in the learning process.
Why are pictures so powerful? Why do books include pictures? Find out at this Smithsonion Institution exhibition. See examples of picture that inspire, inform, influence and illustrate. http://www.sil.si.edu/exhibitions/PicturingWords/
Through analysis, students explore how poetry can be, in Plutarch’s words, “a speaking picture,” and a painting can be “silent poetry.” Although this lesson is complex and designed for senior students, the concepts could be easily used for all grade levels.
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