Images

In the past the forms of communication has been limited to textual and verbal forms.  Today the communication forms in the 21st century include layers of meaning.  Young students are adept at interpreting meaning in sound, music, still and moving images and interactive components (Kress,2003).  Visual literacy is a vital skill for, both, students' and learning managers.    Visual literacy is the ability to see, to understand, and ultimately to think, create, and communicate graphically (M.Thibault & D.Walbert).  Students need to be able to understand what they see, decode and comprehend the visual image.   This can include photographs, paintings, graphic art, comics, films, maps, graphs, etc.

The use of images can be used for a number of reasons. They can be used to:

• inspire discussion of a topic;
• to enforce and extend language and common terms of the object being discussed;
• to stimulate;
• to encourage critical thinking;
• to enhance visual communication skills.

When students are given these images there are a number of activities learning managers can implement to encourage discussion and critical thinking. Students can:

• Connect, Extend and Challenge:  connecting new ideas to prior knowledge;
• Explanation Game:  explore casual understandings e.g. "I notice that...";
• Headlines: students capture the essence using a headline;
• What makes you say that:  Interpretation with justification;
• Question Sorts: identifying powerful questions to guide inquiry and deepen understanding.
  ( Link to Visible Thinking )