Visual Literacy

When you see a street sign do you know what it means? Can you tell the difference between male and female bathroom signs even if they don't include words? Of course you can. That's because you are visually literate. Visual literacy is the ability to evaluate, interpret, negotiate, and make meaning from information presented in the form of images. It also is the ability to create conceptual visual representations. Visual literacy is based on the idea that pictures can be "read" and their meaning be communicated and understood through the readings. Visual literacy enables an individual to discriminate and interpret visible actions, objects, symbols, and signs they encounter. This allows people to communicate with each other through visual imagery and comprehend visual communication. In today's world, visual literacy is vital. Being able to understand and interpret images in crucial in a world where media and the internet are such powerful and omnipresent. Being visually literate not only helps us with basics things such as finding food and drinks we want and knowing where to go, it helps us decipher images presented by the media and uncover hidden meanings in images.

In my major field of education, it is vital that i integrate and teach visual literacy in my classroom. It is my job to prepare children for the world, and if i don't teach my students to be visually literate, I'm not doing that. Teaching them what certain signs, symbols, and actions mean helps them understand and interpret them on their own in the real world. I can use visual literacy in the classroom to get my students thinking critically, by presenting them with a picture and asking them questions about the picture, such as "what are you looking at?" and "what does it mean?" I can also use visual literacy by using images to teach and enhance different subject lessons. For example, instead of reading the history book or about a historic event, I can present my students with an image of the event and have a class discussion about the image. I can also have my students crate their own visual literacy projects to expand their knowledge from understand images to being able to create their own and communicate their ideas using them. Integrating visual literacy in my classroom with allow my benefit my students in the areas of visual literacy, observation, and critical thinking.




This image contains four popular signs and symbols. The images can be identified as recycle, McDonald's, Target, and NBC. This picture demonstrates the power of visual literacy, because even though the picture contains no labels or text, the images can be identified, interpreted, and understood.





This is a picture of Coca-Cola cans from around the world. The text is in various different languages. Even if an individual did not speak the language the label was in, they could identify the product as Coca-Cola because of the familiar image and can design they associate with the drink.