Visual Literacy As UDL Solution Part I.

Definition of Visual Literacy The ability to “discriminate and interpret the visible actions, objects, symbols, natural or man-made, that he encounters in his environment.” The ability to “communicate with others through the creative use of these competencies.” Debes, J. (1969), International Visual Literacy Association (IVLA)

Visual Literacy: An alternative literacy Images as texts A source of primary source materials Visual encoding and decoding Critical examination of the world

Why Visual Literacy?

Why Visual Literacy? Offers a different modality in learning Provide a significant source of information and understanding It is an important 21st century literacy skill Students’ fascination with visuals

Visual Images & Visual Texts Photographs Drawings Maps Cartoons Portraits Charts Diagrams Tables Storyboard Graphic organizers

Meaning Making Visuals (Primary & Secondary Traditional Sources) Textbook Other Texts Other Media

Examine this photo

Type your answers to all questions [Use a different color] What do you see in the photo? Write down everything that caught your eye. The man in the suit is singing while the others look down in sadness. When do you think this was taken? Where do you think this was? I would agree that it was taken in the thirties. It looks like it was taken outside of a factory, or farm? Write a caption for the photo. ”Hang down your head and cry”

What is the difficult part in the previous task What is the difficult part in the previous task? Type your answers below. I suppose that you really don't know what the situation is. You have to look at the clues and try to do some guessing.

Now, choose one caption that you think fits the image from below Now, choose one caption that you think fits the image from below. Change your choice to blue color. . Entertainer Paul Robeson sings to laborers working at the racially integrated Moore Shipyards in Oakland, California, on September 21, 1942. .

Type your answers in red. What did you see in the picture that makes you say that? I choose the answer because the man singing is in a suit, and the other men look to sad to be crying about a baseball game. What are the visual clues you noticed that make you think that particular caption goes with that picture? The man in the suit is the center of attention, and the men around him are dressed as if they are laborers.

Reflect and Answer What have you learned about visual literacy from this simple task? That your eyes look for clues when you don't have information. Find out what type of a learner you are by finishing a VARK learning style questionnaire: http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire What is the result of your questionnaire? Mild Kinesetic You have a multimodal (VR) learning preference. Use the following helpsheets for study strategies that apply to your learning preferences: multimodal visual read-write

Visual Literacy Part II.

Visual images as learning texts Visual images are incomplete, subjective witnesses. For example, photographs are open to varying interpretations from differing perspectives. These perspectives change depending upon: • the technological, aesthetic, and rhetorical components of the medium; and • the context of people (photographer, viewer, subject), technology, time, and place. Prof. Mark Newman, NLU

Visual images as learning texts The nature of the photographic medium Technology, aesthetics, rhetoric Visual images as learning texts Technology of cameras and film in the early 1900s: Black and white photos Rule of Thirds in composition: foreground, center, background

Visual images as learning texts The varying perspectives Photographer Visual images as learning texts “Provided the results are a faithful reproduction of what the photographer believes he sees, whatever takes place in the making of a picture is justified. In my opinion, therefore, it is logical to make things happen before the camera and when possible, to control the actions of the subject.” -- Arnold Rothstein, Farm Security Administration photographer “While photographs may not lie, liars may photograph.” --Lewis Hine, pioneer documentary photographer

Visual images as learning texts The varying perspectives Viewer Visual images as learning texts Most visual images, such as photographs, are familiar. We see them everyday. They are a part of our daily lives. The way we see things is affected by what we know or believe. . . . We only see what we look at. To look is an act of choice. --John Berger, Ways of Seeing

Visual images as learning texts How can all students use this photograph to learn about European immigration to the United States in the early 1900s? What does this photo suggest about European immigrants entering the United States at Ellis island in the early 1900s.? What does the photo not tell us about European immigrants entering the United States at Ellis island in the early 1900s? Because photographs are incomplete and subjective texts, they seldom yield one right answer. They also raise more questions than they answer, meaning they can help students connect to other learning resources.

Answer questions Answer the three questions asked about the black & white photo in the previous slide (slide #19). Type your answers in red below: 1) The picture shows what was normal for that time as far as the area and appearance of the people. 2) The body language of the men is very serious and anxious. They look like they are in a hurry. 3) This picture does not tell us what the people in the picture are thinking. Are they nervous about what awaits them? .

Briefly summarize what you have learned from the part II—Visuals as image texts. Any new insights about using visuals, including visual primary sources to teach? This section shows that even if you don't know the information in front of you, Your mind will try to fill in the blanks. You will use your own experiences to make sense of the unknown. This would be a good example to show a class what exactly their eyes see when they have no written or spoken information.