Visual Learning

Visual learning is defined by Raiyn (2016:115) as “assimilation of information from visual formats”. Visual aids can also be defined as tools that can assist to ensure that lessons are much clearer and easier to know and understand (Shabiralyani, 2015:226). Visual information supports human thoughts process and also maintains long-term memory (Raiyn, 2016:115-116). Visual information can be presented in a variety of formats, such as images, flow charts, diagrams, video, simulations, graphs, cartoons, colouring books, slides or PowerPoint decks, posters, movies, games and flash cards (Rodger et. al cited in Raiyn, 2016). According to Williams (2009), when visual information is presented to students, they understand it better. According to Shabiralyani et al (2015) people remember 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear, 30% of what they see, 50% of what they hear and see, 70% of what they say and 90% of what they say and as they do a thing. When students are presented with information both visually and verbally, they are likely to remember.

Raiyn (2016) stated that there are strategies that can help students manage their learning objectives and achieve academic success. Teachers can make use of a variety of information on different formats in order to display a large amount of information.

Advantages of using visual tools to enhance learning according to Shabiralyani (2015:

Visuals make teaching techniques effective and it is the best dissemination of knowledge.
Helps retain more concepts permanently.
Students can study well when they are inspired properly through different visual aids.
Visual aids provide complete example of conceptual thinking.
Visual aids create the environment of interest for the students.
Visual aids help to increase the vocabulary of the students.
Visual aids provide direct experience to the students.
Visual aids encourage the body movement and it may strengthen the control (Jain cited in Shabiralyani, 2015:227).

The illustration below is an example of a structure of a lesson that teacher can follow in their classrooms to accommodate visual learners:

A teacher can select a lesson in visual learning and make use of corresponding tools for presenting the visual materials. An educator can manage a discussion after introducing the lesson, probe questions to the students and allow students to make comments until the goal of the lesson is achieved. The teacher can then distribute the visual assignment. The teacher can analyse and summarize the students’ learning skills.

4 ways to use visuals in teaching:

Teachers can make use of CANVA which is a free graphic design software package.

Starters: Teachers can create simple graphics to add to their presentations with visual and texts. For example, the teacher can pose a question such as “write down 10 items of fruit” with an image to the left. Students can draw the fruit next to the word instead of asking them to write the translation.
WAGOLL (What a good one looks like): Students can work independently to create a piece of work using target language such as recipes, bookmarks, calendars, magazine covers, flyers etc. and the teacher can make use of CANVA to create an example that students can use as a guidance.
Homework: The teacher can use “show my home”, “google classroom” or twitter to set their homework, click the “social graphics” tab on CANVA and create a quick headline with a visual in the background.
Independent learning: Students can make use of “piktochart” to create an infographic to indicate present tense on a poster for an English lesson.

12 ways to teach a visual learner:

Let the Picture Load: When a teacher asks a visual learner a question, it requires a bit of time to process the question in to visuals before they can answer.
Allow Piles. Visual learners like to organize in piles and stacks. Give your child space to organize his work. In school, provide your child with pocket folders that allow him to make “piles” in his binder.
Color Code. Ask your students to organize his binder or folders by color depending on what color he associates with writing, reading, math, and other subjects.
Let Him Look Away. Looking directly at the teacher, says Golon, can be too much visual information. When your students stare out the window during class, he’s not daydreaming, he’s listening and creating images in his mind.
Show Problem Solving. Visual learners can complete math problems correctly, but often aren’t able to explain the process. Therefore, have your students explain how he solved math problems by drawing the steps. This will allow him to make the connection between the process and the end result.
Show Time. Visual learners often get lost in time as one minute stretches into five or ten. Try using a Time Timer to keep your students on schedule. The visual representation of time, and time passing, will help your child get a better sense of how to manage his time and where he fits into it.
Practice Thinking Under Pressure. It can be stressful for a visual learner to have to translate images into words when he's under a time crunch—for example when he's taking a test. Like anything else, the best way to overcome that hurdle is to practice, practice, practice!
Focus on the Whole Word. The newer methods of reading, based on phonemic awareness, are designed for auditory-sequential learners, says Silverman. Visual learners learn whole words or parts of words that have meaning. When your child reads, he may skip words like “the,” and “it” that have little meaning to him, even though he understands the content. As your students reads and builds his vocabulary, ask him to outline the reading passage or draw definitions for new words. This again, will help him make the connection between text and image and really make the learning stick for him.
Teach Keyboarding. Being able to flip images and see different possibilities helps visual learners imagine, but it can be a hindrance when kids are trying to learn to differentiate between lowercase B, P, Q and D. Teach your child to use the computer keyboard early, which will help him with his typing skills, and help him differentiate between tricky letters. The keyboard is a great way to reinforce visual distinctions between the different letters.
Make Memorization Funny. If your students have to memorize lists or facts, such as state capitals, the colonies, or vocabulary lists, help him create a funny image in his mind for each of the items. A big salt shaker over Salt Lake City, UT, for example. These kinds of visual associations are not only great memory tricks, but they'll also make the process more fun.
Use Internet Resources. As your students starts to explore different topics and time periods, use the Internet to show him what he’s learning. Travel, history, science, and other sites can help your students connect with topics from history timelines to abstract science concepts to world cultures and more.

Reference:

The visual learning styles https://youtu.be/qlqkjH3iSQo

How to plan lessons for visual learners. https://theidealteacher.com/how-to-plan-lessons-for-visual-learners

12 ways to teach your visual learner. https://www.education.com/magazine/article/12-ways-teach-visual-learner/

Williams, R. 2009. Visual learning theory. http://www.aweoregon.org/researchtheory.html

Raiyn, J. 2016. The role of visual learning in improving students’ high order thinking skills. Journal of education and practice, 7(24): 115-121.

Shabitalyani, G., Hasan, K.S., Hamad, N. & Iqbal, N. 2015. Impact of visual aids in enhancing the learning process case research: Disctrict Dera Ghazi Khan. Journal of education and practice, 6(19):226-233.