Visual Learning and the Internet

Frederick R. Barnard is believed to have coined the phrase “A picture is worth a thousand words.”  Visual literacy is the ability to read pictures, charts, graphs, or other images and make sense of them.  The internet makes visual learning more available because of the access we have to images.  Images invoke powerful emotions as demonstrated by a photo from 1970 at Kent State University and another from victory in World War II.

 

 

                        Visual thinking strategy

 My school uses the Envoy program which is a system of non-verbal cues to for class behavior. By using symbols teachers use influence rather than power to manage their classrooms.

              

One strategy I would  like to see in my school is the VTS Visual Thinking System--it aligns with Common Core.

                      The Role of Internet in my library

Even though I only see each student for only 30 minutes per week,I feel I could have more contact by setting up a Wikispace for my library. I would like to create an online wiki where the students can give their reviews and opinions of a books they choose to read. This would help the students practice their writing and help other students get recommends from student on varies books.
In setting up the  wiki I would make accesse by invitation only through the student Edmodo accounts. Because I control the wiki I can monitor content. I would establish rules for the wiki—the students sign an internet access agreement anyway. 

Variety in Instructional Strategy

I was impressed with a question in my TEC 538 class. "Reflect on this statement: "Lectures are not a good strategy for integrating technology because students need hands-on work for learning with and about technology to really learn. Justify your position with readings from the course or additional research.”

The question appeared to indicate that lectures are not a good way to teach technology, and maybe they are not. However my reading of the 4^th chapter of Instructional Technology and Media for Learning showed that there is a place for instructor-centered instruction (Smaldino, Lowther, & Russell 2012). Varying the way the instructor presents material and using multimedia seems to be the key to good instruction.

My classmates gave several ideas for using student-centered instruction, and many of their suggestions are ideas that I use in my own classroom. I like the use of simulation for student-centered instruction because a well-made simulation can give students confidence. 

Technology is making simulation easier to use in the classroom.

Students come to us as individuals—they are not created with a cookie cutter. Consequently they learn in varying ways, so teaching with several strategies is important.

Smaldino, S., Lowther, D., & Russell, J. (2012). Instructional technology and media for learning, tenth edition. (10th ed., p.74). Allyn & Bacon.