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 Who are these men in blue and what is happening?

If a picture is worth a thousand words then imagine how we can teach our students to interpret images as they would a passage of text.It is important for all teachers to collect and/or create images that will optimize visual literacy with their students.

What is Visual Literacy?

"Visual literacy is defined as the ability to interpret images as well as to generate images for communicating ideas and concepts". (Stokes, 2002)

A visually literate person should be able to

• Interpret, understand and appreciate the meaning of visual messages;
• Communicate more effectively by applying the basic principles and concepts of visual design;
• Produce visual messages using computers and other technologies; and
• Use visual thinking to conceptualize solutions to problems

from Jerry Christopherson, 1996 International Visual Literacy Association Conference, referenced from the book, Visual Literacy: Learn to See, See to Learn By Lynell Burmark, p.3, 2002

 
Source - Sea Turtle.http://www.nei.org/keyissues/protectingtheenvironment/.Web. 28 June 2011.

Media as Text

Today, the terms Digital Literacy, Visual Literacy, Literacy 2.0 and 21st Century Skills are used to articulate the ever expanding range of digital knowledge and skills in our world. Many educators now advocate that such media instruction be equally inclusive with traditional practices of text literacy. From this perspective, decoding single and mixed media forms is the now text of our times.

"As we go about our everyday lives, we are bombarded with messages.  These messages come to us in a range of media forms – some visual, some auditory.  We view videos, still shots, and art work in other mediums.  We listen to the radio and podcasts.  We read – online (web pages, wikis, blogs,) and more traditional publications (newspapers, magazines and books).  And, we talk with others, taking in the thoughts of others and sharing our own.

Some of these mixed media messages we pause to ponder and study, others we scarcely notice – but all have an effect on our attitudes, beliefs, and understanding of a topic or issue.   For this reason, our definition of “text” must be widened to include this entire range of media. 

Viewing media as text necessitates bringing comprehension and critical literacy strategies to the reading and writing of these media forms." Maria Nichols