A brief summary is as follows: All students are already trained and familiar with using Visual Literacy in their first language. The goal is to transfer that skill to learning English. The host of the webinar was Eco-friendly Katie Subra from Minnesota and the moderator was your's truly, Khidar 'AB' Abdullah. Samples of Visuals include: photos, art, posters, illustrations, signs, advertisements, charts, diagrams, maps, timelines, comics, flags, symbols, brochures and etc.
What is Visual Literacy (VL) you ask?It is the ability to read and understand a variety of visuals in a given environment. Visuals can be categorized as simple or high. A non smoking sign is an example of high while a work of art would be a sample of a high visual.
The benefits of using VL in the classroom is:
- Authentic & culturally relevant materials
- Incorporate intergraded skills
- Develop content based vocabulary
- Motivate visual learners
- Promotes critical thinking
- Promotes Communicative language practice
One of the activities you can do you with your students is Show-n-Tell. Students can bring in an artifact or take a picture of one. They can share and show it to the class and tell all about it. You can employ productive skills like speaking and for more advanced students they can write paragraph.
You can assign the topic using the prompt, if this arifact was in a time capsule:
1. How would you explain it to someone in the future who is outside of your culture.
2. Include a description of the color and size of the object.
3. What is used for presently and what could be used for in the future.
Then ask the students to rewrite the questions using 2-3 full sentences for their answers. The students should write in the 3rd person (He, She, It, They). When the task is done, they have a nice short essay with a picture of the visual attached. You can blog it and have a nice record of the task.
You can also do small group or large group activities with signs and infographics. Each group can select one sign or infographic or you can provide one and do it as a class activity. Before you jump into the activity you should
- Intro the new topic
- Pre-teach it
- Find culturally & authentic materials
- Help students with the task
Another fun activity is work in small groups and have students make their own infographic. The finished products can be displayed in the classroom or virtually displayed in a blog. This activity can be a bit time-consuming, but it is a fun creative exercise. You can go to the website www.canva.com
to create your own free account to make high quality info graphics.
The language used in this task would be an imperative statement like-Conserve Water. It would be followed 2 or 3 'I can statements." I can use less water when brushing my teeth. I can take shorter showers. Of course you would have a general visual attached to express the idea of conserving water. You should model a few samples before you begin the activity. Overall, it was another practical professional development webinar followed by a spirited discussion. Your students are already visual literate, why not apply this skill to learn English.
Another job well done!
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