Visual Literacy

Theo Kuechel, Jeff Beaudry and Sarah Ritz-Swain | View as single page |
Visual Literacy
Definitions
Why Visual Literacy is important in Education
Context
Pedagogical Strategies
Resources
What is VL, why should teachers know this
What would a VL teacher or learner know?
How does VL relate to other literacies?
What pedagogical strategies make use of the affordances of VL
Where can teachers find resources to support VL?
What should teachers know about VL?
An understanding of the importance of VL
What are the constituent parts of VL?
What pedagogical concepts does VL involve?
Communities of Practice
Why is the history of visual learning important for teachers
Practical competences and skills related to visual literacy
The basic elements of VL; the grammar and syntax of visual media
Which pedagogical questions can teachers ask to develop VL
Tools and platforms
Links and sources
Areas for further research
Strength of Evidence
Transferability
Editors' Comments

What are the basic elements of visual literacy; the grammar and syntax of visual media?

To help learners become visually literate, it is a good idea to set design learning activities that help them gain a practical understanding of visual grammar and syntax, and identify these elements and the part they play in visual media.

  • line, direction, shape, geometry
  • motion, rhythm, flow, animation, speed
  • arrangement, framing, juxtaposition of images, composition
  • foreground, background emphasis ,
  • perspective, linear, atmospheric, 1.2 3.4 point perspective, 360 degree views
  • light, shadow colour. contrast. illumination. tone. boldness
  • manipulation, cropping, editing, remixing
  • abstraction, simplification, harmony
  • representation, labels, captions, metaphor, parody
  • symbolism, resemblance visual/text relationship

The following references are part of the evidence base for this resource.

Bamford. A,. The Visual Literacy White Paper, Adobe; 2003. http://wwwimages.adobe.com/content/dam/Adobe/en/education/pdfs/visual-literacy-wp.pdf

George Lucas; Teaching Visual Literacy and Communications (video) http://youtu.be/GwDXlA_6usI

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