Lesson 5

This week was interesting because we learned and investigated a wide range of websites, videos, and resources available to students and teachers. One important thing I learned this week that Visual Literacy is very important in schools, and needs to be something that is discussed among teachers when planning a unit. I think many of us are using visual literacy within our classrooms, but maybe aren't aware that it is what we are doing and not fully engaging our students into what visual literacy can offer our students as well.

The video of Martin Scorsese sharing how visual literacy is important in education these days was very engaging and useful! I was touched mostly by how as a child he became intrigued with imagery and films, but wasn’t even able to afford to see movies in the theater. He still found a love and passion for film despite his circumstances. This helped me realize that as teachers, we may the only open door to students when it comes to technology, visual literacy, music, and so forth. The classroom may be the only place they are stimulated and exposed to certain things which may eventually turn into a passion for them. As teachers, we must be willing to learn new lessons to teach, and new tools and resources to use with our students so that we do not hinder their learning experience. One way to become a better teacher is to better understand certain things. For me, this week I feel as though I have a better understanding of what visual literacy means.

I found a definition of visual literacy that I really liked; "...the ability to interpret, negotiate, and make meaning from information presented in the form of an image. Visual literacy is based on the idea that pictures can be “read” and that meaning can be communicated through a process of reading.". This was found from the wiki we were to investigae, found here: http://visual-lit.wikispaces.com/What+is+Visual+Literacy%3F. If a teacher is not sure what visual literacy is, this would be a great place to check out because there are links to activities and sites that provide information.

Students at a very early age can understand visual literacy. I shared an example in my discussion post on visual literacy of how I use visual literacy with my elementary music students. Prior to beginning a song, I often start with a photo or image that is connected to the song. Sometimes I have to research and find one, but most of the times there is an image provided in the teaching series I use to open the lesson with observations from the students as well as discussion. I have showed a picture of a mother holding and rocking her baby. The students would share with me their observations about what the mother is doing, who is she holding, and what kind of song would be be singing? The students would share with me that she is holding a baby, and maybe rocking the baby! This would lead to what do mothers and father do when they rock a baby? This is a great way to opening the door for students to understand how to interpret an image and why it is important. Visual literacy allows students to investigate and think outside of the box on their own. It is important that we provide them with the opportunity to do so!