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Visual Learning
Learning to think. Learning to learn. These are the
essential skills for student success. Research in both educational
theory and cognitive psychology tells us that visual learning is among
the very best methods for teaching students of all ages how to think
and how to learn.
What is visual learning?
Visual learning techniques—graphical ways of working with ideas and
presenting information—teach students to clarify their thinking, and
to process, organise and prioritise new information. Visual diagrams
reveal patterns, interrelationships and interdependencies. They also
stimulate creative thinking.
Visual learning techniques
Webbing, idea mapping, mind mapping and concept mapping are some of
the most popular visual learning methods. For students who express
themselves visually, and for those who learn more effectively through
the use of visuals, audio and other multimedia techniques, visual
learning inspires higher levels of achievement. Inspiration®
and Kidspiration®
make it easy and fun to implement these techniques.
Learn more about the power of visual learning and see several examples
developed using Inspiration and Kidspiration.
Visual
learning techniques help students:
Clarify thinking.
Students see how ideas are connected and realise how information can
be grouped or organised. With visual learning, new concepts are more
thoroughly and easily understood.
Reinforce understanding.
Students recreate, in their own words, what they've learned. This
helps them absorb and internalise new information, giving them
ownership of their ideas.
Integrate new knowledge.
Diagrams or mind maps updated throughout a lesson prompt students to
build upon prior knowledge and internalise new information. By
reviewing diagrams created previously, students see how facts and
ideas fit together.
Identify misconceptions.
Just as a concept map or web shows what students know, misdirected
links or wrong connections reveal what they don't understand.
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Webs
Webs are visual maps
that show how different categories of information relate to one
another. Webs provide structure for ideas and facts and give students
a flexible framework for organising and prioritising information.
Typically, major topics or central concepts are at the center of the
web. Links from the center connect supporting details or ideas with
the core concept or topic.
Teachers and students alike use webs to brainstorm, organise
information for writing (prewriting), as well as to analyse stories
and characterisation.
Classroom teachers tell us that webbing is an effective technique to
use in small group settings. As students work cooperatively they can
build collaborative webs, incorporating the thoughts and contributions
of each group member.
Explore the different ways
to use webs:
Literary webs
help students analyse stories or novels so that they more fully
understand the literary elements at play, as well as the composition
of the story.
Character webs
represent one of the ways in which visual learning can support reading
comprehension.
Comparison
is one of the most basic and powerful forms of analysis in any
discipline.
Prewriting
describes the brainstorming and organising students do before writing
a story. |
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Idea
Maps
Whether
students are searching for ideas for writing assignments, projects or
presentations, often they need a spark to make ideas begin to flow. That's where
idea maps come in. This visual learning technique stimulates students to
generate ideas, follow them through and develop their thoughts visually.
Idea maps help students brainstorm, solve problems and plan their work. Using
fast, five-minute exercises in word and idea association, idea maps connect
keywords, symbols, colours and graphics to form nonlinear networks of potential
ideas and thoughts.
Educators tell us they use idea maps in all kinds of applications. Prior to
field trips, idea maps help students think about what they might see and learn.
After the field trip, students use idea maps to record their observations. And
idea maps give emerging or struggling writers a boost as they learn to generate
ideas and gather and organise their thoughts.
Concept Maps
Concept
maps graphically illustrate relationships between information. In a concept map,
two or more concepts are linked by words that describe their relationship.
Concept maps encourage understanding by helping students organise and enhance
their knowledge on any topic. They help students learn new information by
integrating each new idea into their existing body of knowledge.
Concept maps are ideal for measuring the growth of student learning. As students
create concept maps, they reiterate ideas using their own words. Misdirected
links or wrong connections alert educators to what students do not understand,
providing an accurate, objective way to evaluate areas in which students do not
yet grasp concepts fully.
Mind
Maps
Mind maps
are visual representations of hierarchical information that include a central
idea or image surrounded by connected branches of associated topics or ideas.
Subtopics are added to the mind map flowing outward from the central idea.
Mind maps provide a simplified overview of complex information allowing students
to better understand relationships and find new connections. As students use
symbols, colours and simple keywords to create a memorable mind map, information
and connections within that information are more easily recalled. Supporting
information is detailed in attached notes.
Mind maps are well suited to capture information in a natural, free-flowing
style. The process of building a mind map is very fluid and nonlinear, making
the expansion of ideas similar to the natural way of thinking. Mind mapping is
commonly used for brainstorming ideas, taking notes and planning tasks.
 This
is a Storyboard created using Inspiration® software.
It details the many
Educational Applications of this Software
Unique Feature of Inspiration®
software:
Inspiration® automatically creates simultaneous outlines and
diagrams.
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