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By: Angela & Linda

WEB 2.0 - Chapter 6
“Is it true that a picture is worth a thousand words?”

This is no longer accurate, for

today’s young people, the picture
is all. When words matter, it is
often in a text message or 140
character Tweet.
What Are Visual Learning Tools?
Today’s students view and communicate information through personal
displays that include computer monitors, smartphones, handhelds,
and television

They learn and spread information using media such as YouTube,

photosites, and online presentation tools that feature visual displays

Many students are visual learners for whom seeing--whether tutorials,

diagrams, or videos---help them learn. Visual aids have always been
there (i.e. photos, maps, diagrams, charts, graphs, tables, etc.)
however, now there are more ways to get information visually (i.e web
delivering images, videos, and presentations, etc.) and because
visual communication is so common for this digital generation,
students must develop the ability to think critically about the image
presented and decode the meaning.
Common Core Standards and Visual
Learning
Recently, an effort has been made to implement common
standards for learners throughout the United States. The mission
statement is:
○ The Common Core State Standards provide a
consistent, clear understanding of what students are
expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what
they need to do to help them. The standards are
designed to be robust and relevant to the real world,
reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young
people need for success in college and career.
(Common Core State Standards, 2013, n.p.)
So, how can we merge Common Core Standards
and Visual Learning Tools?
Incorporate visual learning tools such as graphic organizers, concept maps, mind
maps, webs, and idea maps, help students to write and learn more effectively.

They can apply these skills across all curriculums areas, especially in English
Language Arts.
 English and Visual Learning Tools
In English, students are required to discern meaning, theme, plot, and more from the text, make
connections among ideas and texts, and evaluate to interpret and understand text. Students can
satisfy these writing requirements by improving their writing skills. They can accomplish this by;
● Pre-writing, brainstorming, organizing, and starting first drafts

The requirements for the writing strand state that a student is expected to plan, draft, revise, edit,
and publish writing; develop a reading-writing connection; and research to build and present
knowledge. Websites that can aid students accomplish this are:
○ Bubbl.us= allows students to create colorful brainstorms and mind maps online
○ Gliffy= an online diagram software that allows students to create professional looking
flowcharts, diagrams, technical drawings, and more.
○ Pinterest= Is a virtual pin or bulletin board for assembling creative ideas and
information in a virtual graphic space
○ Webspiration= is the online version of Inspiration. Students can create, organize, and
share ideas visually.
 ful?
U s e
s
Too l
i ng
r n
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is ua
V What STUDENTS NEED to LEARN:
y Are Students must learn to view all types of media to understand and analyze the information they see
Wh throughout their lives. Teachers can help students refine their analytical skills with practice. Teachers
can do this in a variety of ways, such as;
○ Providing prompts for students before they watch a video. This helps students know what
to look for and enhance their learning.
○ “Watch for..” “Listen for..” “Be ready to discuss three things you learned..” are examples of
lead-ins to get students to think about what they see
Students must learn to create meaning and communicate with visual tools. Some of the things that
they can create are;
○ Digital Media Projects
○ Video Podcasting
○ Screencasting
○ Projects that demonstrate their knowledge of the subject matter
 Why Are Visual Learning Tools Useful?
How do STUDENTS BENEFIT?
What can TEACHERS DO:
Teachers can use image and visual
To create media products, students should be able to:
presentations in the curriculum and
○ Understand and utilize the most appropriate media
encourage students to create
creation tools, characteristics and conventions
presentations that develop the skills of
○ Understand and effectively utilize the most
inquiry, creativity, and higher order
appropriate expressions and interpretation in diverse,
thinking.
,multicultural environments
● When students work on a curricular project they sharpen
Teachers can use video to record
their ability to discover relationship among ideas and to
student progress throughout the year;
develop new concepts and insights
record students reading, solving math
● When students collaborate with one another they have
equations, and participating in class.
feedback, build relationship with others, and it promotes a
These can be used to create a virtual
higher order thinking skills
portfolio of the student’s progress.
● When they communicate and share ideas with a real
audience, they take ownership of their own work, and
develop a commitment to learning.
 When Do Teachers and Students Use Visual Learning Tools?

Flipping Classrooms
Is a model of teaching and learning that inverts the traditional structure of teacher-centered instruction in class and homework at
home. The advantage for students is that they can watch an explanation and demonstration of a concept on their computers at
their convenience and use classroom time to home their skills and apply learning under the guidance of their teachers and fellow
students. Teachers can differentiate instruction more easily, and students can learn at their own pace and take responsibility for
their learning.
○ Its benefits;
■ Ex; creating small tutorials for math lessons that can be access to students at any time
■ Parents can access the material/curriculum
■ Students can work at their own pace
■ Students coming to class better prepare to learn
■ It saves time and is now easier to differentiate and pinpoint a diagnosis of student weaknesses and
remediate
■ The ability to rewind (stop, pause, and watch it again)
There are two ways to provide videos for students. The first is to access high quality videos from trusted sources or created by
other educators and placed online. The other is to create one’s own.
 When Do Teachers and Students Use Visual Learning Tools?

Example of VIDEOS:

● The Khan Academy

(www.khanacademy.org)
● NBCLearn
(www.nbclearn.com)
● Science 360
(www.science360.gov)
● TED (www.ted.com)
● YouTube Edu
(www.youtube.com/education)
● PBS (video.pbs.org)
 When Do Teachers and Students Use Visual Learning
Tools?
Professional Development
Does not only help students, but
teachers as well. Teachers are
sharing ideas on sites such as;
YouTube, TeacherTube, or Vimeo
Classroom Integration
Students have traditionally watched
videos to learn, but being the creators of
visual information is not possible with
today’s tools. When students create
knowledge from information, collaborate
with others, and do hands-on learning,
they engage with the subject matter and
learn, understand, and remember it.
Students can create:
● Digital Storytelling
● Student Presentations
● Animation
● Video Documentaries
● Screencasting
 g ”
n An example to follow….
eachi
ll T Rob’s Story
S ti
t y,
u
yD
A middle school teacher from Amherst, New York,

u r who managed to teach his technology class

n J despite being out on jury duty for a couple of
“ O weeks. While he wasn’t physically in class,
substitute teachers were able to play screencasts
that Rob created for his student using Snagit. He
made sure to include a webcam video in his
screencasts to give his students the impression
he was right there alongside them. Screencasting
allowed Rob to give his students instruction
directly, which helped eliminate confusion for
bothe the substitute teachers and students.
https://youtu.be/RYnRxxgjA30
 How do you get started with Virtual Learning Tools?

Six Elements of Digital Stories

Voice: Write in the first or third person

Steps for Digital StoryTelling Character: List the traits your main character demonstrate
Setting: Describe where the story takes place
1. Brainstorm and develop a topic and purpose
for writing Conflict: Show a disagreement or struggle
2. Discuss expectations and assessment of Visual: Use photos or other images to enhance the story’s
digital stories meaning
3. Create a storyboard or outline for the story
line Pacing: Set the stage by using rising action, create drama using
4. Discuss how images can help communicate conflict, and use failing action to lead to resolution
a story and enhance the message
5. Use a digital camera to capture photos or
find photos online that are free and available
to use
6. Identify elements of digital stories
7. Use editing tools to edit images and create
the digital story
 Where can YOU find more information about Visual
Learning Tools?
● Free interactive, online tools from Intel: www.intel.com/education/tools
● The WNET National Teacher Training Institute explains how to use
educational videos and offers short videos
● 30 of the Best Educational Tools for Auditory, Visual, and Kinesthetic
Learners:
http://diplomaguide.com/articles/30_of_the_best_educational_tools_for_audit
ory_visual_and_kinesthetic_learners.html
● Handout!