This document discusses visual literacy and the use of picture books in education. It introduces several researchers and theorists in the field of visual literacy and notes that while the English curriculum mentions interpreting visual resources, it does not explicitly encourage using picture books or developing visual literacy skills. The document argues that picture books can help students develop important visual literacy abilities and that more should be done to incorporate them into classrooms across all grade levels.

1. VISUAL LITERACY... what is it?

2. PICTURE BOOKS... What is the purpose of them?

3. Researchers, Theorists & Educators Michele Anstey: Former Teacher. Author of The Literacy Labyrinth and Reading the Visual. Co-author of the 2001 Board of Teacher Registration document, Literacy in Teacher Education: Standards for Pre-service Programs. Director of the Literate Futures Project for Education Queensland a state-wide professional development initiative for all teachers, 2001. Principal Adviser Literate Futures Project 2002 – 2004. Authored Literate Futures: Reading (2002) and other material for Education Queensland Geoff Bull: Researcher. Author of The Literacy Labyrinth and Reading the Visual. Associate Professor at the University of Southern Queensland. Member of editorial board; Australian Journal of Language and Literacy. Author for the Literate Futures Project for Education Queensland 2002. Consultant to the Queensland Years 1-10 English Syllabus 2004. Anne Bamford: Director of Visual Arts for the Centre for Research in Education and the Arts. Extensive experience in developing curriculum support material for teachers and interactive media in tertiary teaching and learning. Researcher in visual literacy and adolescents and the use of interactive media in teaching and learning. Author of The Visual Literacy White Paper. Rosemary Johnston: Associate Professor in the School of Teacher Education and Director of Teacher education and Director of the Centre for Research and Education in the Arts at UTS, Kuring-Gai campus.

4. Researchers, Theorists & Educators Cont. Dr Floyd Ausburn: Retired Professor. Theorist of ‘Visual Literacy Theory’. Holds international experience in educational and visual literacy development in more than 15 countries. Dr Lynna Ausburn: Theorist of ‘Visual Literacy Theory’. Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Occupational Education Studies in the College of Education at Oklahoma State University. Over 10 years experience as Curriculum Development Supervisor for Oklahoma State Department of Career and Technical Education. Mary Alice White: Researcher at Columbia Teacher's College. Contributor to book, ‘What Curriculum for the Information Age?’ Keith Lightbody: Information technology specialist in West Australia schools. Contributor to visual literacy articles such as Digital Cameras and Visual Literacy, Visual Literacy in Classrooms. Stuart Oring: Author of ‘Understanding Pictures’ Lesley Wing Jan: Teacher, Curriculum Consultant, Author, Lecturer La Trobe University, Melbourne. Focus on literacy and language development. John Hortin: Professor of Education at Kansas State University and past vice-president of the international visual literacy association.

5. Our Argument. From the very first years at school, we found no Essential Learnings outcome that encouraged learning managers to use visual literacy, in particular, picture books, in their teaching.

10. Aim/objective of our activity

11. Other Teaching Strategies and Resources that can be used…

15. References