What are Visual Learning Tools?
From my understanding, Visual Learning Tools are tools that are used to teach specific topics using images both still and in motion. For this post, I will refer to Visual Learning Tools as VLT. Some VLT's include graphic organizers, concept maps, mind maps, webs, and idea maps, have help students to write and learn more effectively (Solomon, pg 2509). Researchers, have found that VLT's help students to be more engaged in the provided material and are able to retain more information when there is a visual included with the lesson. One of my favorite tools that can be used as a VLT's is Pinterest. Pinterest is both a web and mobile application used to find information from the internet using images, gifs, and sometime videos.
From my understanding, Visual Learning Tools are tools that are used to teach specific topics using images both still and in motion. For this post, I will refer to Visual Learning Tools as VLT. Some VLT's include graphic organizers, concept maps, mind maps, webs, and idea maps, have help students to write and learn more effectively (Solomon, pg 2509). Researchers, have found that VLT's help students to be more engaged in the provided material and are able to retain more information when there is a visual included with the lesson. One of my favorite tools that can be used as a VLT's is Pinterest. Pinterest is both a web and mobile application used to find information from the internet using images, gifs, and sometime videos.
I also found bubbl.us to be a great visual for graphic organizer. Check out the video below to get a better understanding on how it works.
Schrum and Solomon suggest that students can understand the required reading with visuals involved. With the demand of students needing to be able o pull from the text, detect the meaning, theme or plot, visuals will strengthen students ability to do so (pg 2524). Teachers can help students by prompting what the video or image may entail and allows students to look closer to key details.
Robert Miller (2013) explains that VLT can be used for differentiation. Classrooms may continue to be taught the way they were before VLT's were introduced, but now allow students to learn at their own pace. He mentions a teacher that provides videos for students to have access to whenever they needed it. These videos help students who may not have understood the lesson of that day or may just want to review a lesson that was taught.
With Visual Learning Tools on the rise, many web 2.0 tools has been useful with our 21st century learners. Another resource that can be used to find images in Flickr. Flickr is a photo sharing site and they work hand in hand with creative commons. Images from Flickr can be used for presentations, blogs, and videos. With the copyright provided from creative commons, it is safe to say that images used from Flickr are free to use. It is still up to the blogger to make sure permission is provided before making an image public for viewing.
Robert Miller (2013) explains that VLT can be used for differentiation. Classrooms may continue to be taught the way they were before VLT's were introduced, but now allow students to learn at their own pace. He mentions a teacher that provides videos for students to have access to whenever they needed it. These videos help students who may not have understood the lesson of that day or may just want to review a lesson that was taught.
With Visual Learning Tools on the rise, many web 2.0 tools has been useful with our 21st century learners. Another resource that can be used to find images in Flickr. Flickr is a photo sharing site and they work hand in hand with creative commons. Images from Flickr can be used for presentations, blogs, and videos. With the copyright provided from creative commons, it is safe to say that images used from Flickr are free to use. It is still up to the blogger to make sure permission is provided before making an image public for viewing.
Above is an image I created using Spell with Flickr. Visuals are used to enhance and engage student learning. Hobgood and Ormsby suggest that there are four values teachers should consider when integrating technology with differentiation. The four values they suggest are content, process, product, and environment. For teachers to overcome their fear of using technology in the classroom, they just need to try it. A good way to begin, is by using images that can motivate students to be successful in their learning.
Check out some of the items I've listed and I hope you can find some use in this post.
Hobgood B. & Ormsby L. (2013). Inclusion in the 21st Century classroom: Differentiating with technology. Reaching every Learner: Differentiating instruction in theory and practice.
Schrum L. & Solomon G. (2014). Web 2.0 Tools: How-to for Educators. Retrieved from Kindle.
Check out some of the items I've listed and I hope you can find some use in this post.
Hobgood B. & Ormsby L. (2013). Inclusion in the 21st Century classroom: Differentiating with technology. Reaching every Learner: Differentiating instruction in theory and practice.
Schrum L. & Solomon G. (2014). Web 2.0 Tools: How-to for Educators. Retrieved from Kindle.