| Visual literacy is the ability to analyze and derive | | | | students' visual literacy so they may survive, |
| meaning from information presented in image | | | | communicate, and succeed in a highly complex |
| form. Under this definition, images can be "read" | | | | world. |
| and through the process of "reading" these | | | | Preparing Students for the Workplace |
| images, meaning can be derived and subsequently | | | | The DOE report makes it clear that educational |
| communicated. | | | | technology consists of a set of strategic |
| One of the seven recommendations made in a | | | | resources that improve a student's "ability to |
| report from the Office of Educational Technology | | | | sense, measure, question, understand, |
| (U.S. Department of Education, 2004) for | | | | communicate, and learn." These resources enable |
| continuing to improve the use of technology in | | | | students to become scientists, focused on active |
| schools is a distinct move toward digital content. | | | | learning, rather than passive consumers of |
| Moving Toward Digital Content | | | | textbook-delivered content. Students find it easier |
| Anyone that has had a student in college recently | | | | to learn core concepts because they are offered |
| knows first-hand that textbooks are becoming | | | | visual representations of ideas that provide more |
| more expensive each semester, not to mention | | | | precision and clarity. Boring, passive memorization |
| how quickly they become outdated. A move | | | | of content transforms into a dynamic, hands-on |
| toward increased use of education technology and | | | | investigative process that exposes them to many |
| its digital content (multimedia and online | | | | of the same tools and processes that they will |
| information), and away from such textbooks, | | | | encounter in the workplace as adults. |
| offers many advantages. In addition to the cost | | | | Teaching visual literacy in the classroom means |
| savings, it also means improved accessibility, | | | | providing activities for students to critically analyze |
| increased efficiency, and enhancing learning | | | | the images presented to them through media. It |
| opportunities in a format that engages today's | | | | also means equipping students with the tools they |
| internet-focused students. | | | | need to present their work in a way that |
| Because of the unprecedented rate of recent | | | | effectively communicates the content. More and |
| advances in educational technology, this move | | | | more students are looking for educational |
| toward digital content also means that educators | | | | technology to enhance their individual learning |
| must increasingly promote visual literacy as | | | | environments. As educators, it is our duty to |
| indispensable to day-to-day life. Educators are just | | | | provide it. |
| beginning to recognize the importance developing | | | | |