He goes onto explain that Visual literacy combines the use of teaching, learning and assessing processes with a variety of visual products e.g. lists, tables and concept maps. He states that, "Visual literacy strategies help teachers and learners explore a variety of cognitive, reasoning processes such as classification, comparative thinking, as well as analysis, evaluation and design thinking." Visual literacy can be a vital tool in the Early Childhood years because students are making the transition into learning to write formally ans be involved in text-based learning.
Concept mapping can become a useful tool when you are beginning to elicit students prior knowledge because it provides teachers with a starting point. It can also be seen as a brainstorming session which can be an engaging activity for your students.
I really enjoyed looking at the the phases of visual thinking and concept mapping which was also shown to us as a map in the textbook.
I also really loved looking at the examples in the textbook of a hand drawn concept map around bats by students and then the end result once it had been generated with mapping software. Through this repetition, I believe students would get a really great understanding of the subject.
The problem in today's society is that not all teachers recognise the potential of visual literacy in the classroom. Regardless of the amount of studies that have been taken around Visual Literacy, numerous amounts of teachers continue to teach without it instead of embracing its potential. Students all have their unique way of learning so it is vital that we cater to every students needs which should involve tasks that encourage students to use Visual Literacy.
Reference:
Beaurdry, J. (2015). Teaching and Learning with ICT in the Primary School: Visual literacy for all teachers and learners: essential knowledge and skills to create, use and assess concept maps and graphic organisers. Abingdon, Oxen, Routledge.
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