Visual Principles II: Visual Literacy

TECH3008 Introduction to Educational Technology Dr. Alaa Sadik Department of Instructional & Learning Technologies www.alaasadik.net [email_address]

TECH3008 Introduction to Educational Technology Presentation Four: Visual Principles II: Visual Literacy

Using optical & digital images in education:
Why?
How?

Using optical & digital images in education: Why?
Learner preferences and styles can more effectively be addressed.
Enhanced learning and retention take place through the use of visual material.
Bring deeper understanding to complex subject matter.
Help students focus attention.
Improve the decision-making process.
Speed adoption of major change.
Motivate learners.

Using optical & digital images in education: How?
Print format
Books
Portrait
Newsletters
Presentations
TV screen
Image CD
The Web

Visual Literacy (VL)
1. Defining Visual Literacy
“ Visual Literacy means being able to read and compose images”.
“ The ability to discriminate and interpret visual actions, objects and other images, while gaining meaning from them ”.

Visual Literacy (VL
1. Defining Visual Literacy
“ Visual literacy skills are required for effective learning and teaching via images”.

2. The importance of Visual Literacy
VL uses images to teach critical and creative thinking, communication and visual literacy.
VL increases student competence in constructing meaning from images that incorporate various curriculum-based subjects.
VL helps students sharpen their powers of observation.

2. The importance of Visual Literacy
VL increases ability to locate information, analyze, reason and form conclusions about the photograph.
VL opens up new worlds for students and engages them to write in more meaningful ways.
VL helps students to think more consciously about the details they see.

3. Enhancing student’s visual literacy: How?
“ By asking your students the right questions, they can learn to read and discover the story behind the image”.

For Example:
What information is conveyed by:
gesture?
expression?
the clothing worn in the photograph?
the background?
the use of props?

For Example:
- Who created the image?
- Who is the audience of the image?
- For what purpose was the image created?
- What is the message of the image?
- Why was the image arranged that way?

4. Student objectives/roles
Practice the skills of observing and interpreting photographs.
Transform visual information into strong descriptive language.
Find/create images that describe/illustrate a specific point of view or issue.

Visual Elements Syntax and Semantics

Visual Elements: Syntax and Semantics
The Language of Visual Literacy
Visuals are a language that allow us to produce and communicate thoughts and images about reality.
The symbols used in visual communication are not a fixed vocabulary (dictionary) .

The Language of Visual Literacy
Visual communication is made up of symbols whose meaning results from their context .
A visual meaning is formed by seeing and thinking .

Visual Semantics
Semantic is the study of language meaning .
Visual semantics are the cultural, communicative and social signs relate to meaning.
Examples of visual semantics signs includes: purpose, photo creator, date & time of shooting, purpose, context, audience, relationships…

Visual Syntax
Syntax is the grammatical arrangement of words in sentences .
VL syntax is the form of building of blocks of an image. These blocks are called visual elements .
Examples of visual elements includes: scale, dimension, arrangements, framing, motion, colour, light, shadow, juxtaposition, relative size, foreground, background…

Visual Elements
Main Visual Elements (visual syntax)
Framing
Angle
Lighting
Timing
Contrast
Scale

Visual Elements
Main Visual Elements
Framing
A technique used to bring the focus and depth to the subject and objects.
What is included and excluded in an individual shot.
The photographer’s determination of what the edges of a photograph will be.

Visual Elements
Framing
A wonderful scene, framed
by a window frame

Visual Elements
Framing
A party attender, framed
by her friends

Visual Elements
Framing
A beautiful sunset, naturally framed
by the clouds

Visual Elements
Angle
The direction from which the artist photographs the subject .
A technique used to change/improve the look of objects by using different camera directions.
Angles are used to convey different information and feelings about the same subject.

Visual Elements
Angle
If you like to sell your car, capture a good
photos from an appropriate angle.

Visual Elements
Angle
Looks great

Visual Elements
Angle
Looks young but ambitious

Visual Elements
Angle
Looks more beautiful

Visual Elements
Angle
Looks bright

Visual Elements
Angle
Looks great

Visual Elements
Angle

Visual Elements
Lighting
Lighting is a technique used to imply a mood/emotion.
Very contrasting lighting (dark shadows, bright highlights) is more dramatic than a soft gentle light.
Lighting and shadows also provide clues to the figuring out the larger setting and time of day the shot was taken.

Visual Elements
Lighting

Activities
A. Find images.
B. Define and describe images.
C. Content & image analysis (various student books) .
D. Using Images to create a visual story .

Discussions & Conclusions

Visual Principles II: Visual Literacy

by Alaa Sadik

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