Visual+Literacy

[|21st Century Skills] defines visual literacy as the "//ability to interpret, use, appreciate, and create images and video using both conventional and 21st century media in ways that advance thinking, decision making, communication, and learning." And it describes students who are visually literate as aware of the emotional, psychological, physiological, and cognitive influences images have on perceived meaning.//
 * WHAT IS VISUAL LITERACY?**

We will begin examining visually literacy through the process of taking/finding photos help convey a core curriculum topic.

How can digital images enhance inquiry-based learning?
 * ESSENTIAL QUESTION**


 * MODULE OBJECTIVES**
 * 1) Learners will gain knowledge about the functions of a digital camera, and the basic steps for editing digital images.
 * 2) Learners will leave knowing new ways they can use digital cameras and image-editing software to support inquiry-based learning in the classroom.
 * 3) Learners will understand the importance of reading and understanding intended messages conveyed through images as a visual-literacy skill.
 * 4) Learners will understand the skills required to use images for effective communication as a visual-literacy skill.

Digital Image Resources [|http://resources.emints.org/modresources/links/digcamera.shtml] and [|http://resources.emints.org/modresources/links/visualliteracy.shtml] Username: emintsteacher & Password: emints
 * MODULE RESOURCES** (participant module)

Look at the following images. Reflect on what images communicate. Share what the image below communicate to you! Images have the capacity to communicate thoughts, emotions and perspectives in a way that text or speech cannot convey. As images become more common in various forms of communication, students need to learn how to read images and how to use images for communication. They need to develop the abilities to appreciate and manipulate artistic elements of design, composition, focal point and setting as they learn to communicate visually.
 * OPENING**

Think - Pair - Share Cooperative Learning Format. Find your "Old Maid" Partner and using the "Clarify Visual Literacy" handout to take notes, have one partner read “Visual Literacy” by Annette Lamb while the other partner reads “Reading Images: An Introduction to Visual Literacy” by Melissa Thibault and David Walbert. Both articles are found in the [|eMINTS Module Resources]. When finished reading, talk with your partner, recording notes on your handouts. With your partner decide “What makes a person visually literate? and Why is visual literacy important?”
 * WHAT MAKES A PERSON VISUALLY LITERATE? WHAT IS VISUAL LITERACY?**

[|PowerPoint] by Michelle Kendrick, from Missouri eMINTS ETS. [|Noses!] and example of illustrated poetry and [|Dustbowl on eMedia]. //**The Dustbowl**// uses archival photographs and text slides to document the devastating effects of years of poor farming practices and a sustained drought on the American Midwest during the 1930s. This is a powerful example of how images convey powerful messages.

Give it a try: Can you create a visual Interpretations of a selected piece of poetry? [|Jack Prelutsky], [|Shel Silverstein], [|Robert Frost], [|Weed's Anthology of Favorite Poems] Be careful not just to illustrate the poem, and instead create a visual interpretation. A visual interpretation captures the emotion and message of a poem, an illustration just gives a pictorial image of its words. Looking for pictures - try [|Wikicommons] might be an option.


 * VISUAL LITERACY CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES**
 * 1) http://eduscapes.com/sessions/digital/activity1.htm Learning to "read, interpret, use" digital photos. Visual literacy using web based resources.
 * 2) http://eduscapes.com/sessions/digital/activity2.htm Develop visual focused activities.
 * 3) Stephanie's Presentation

Each digital camera brand has unique operating procedures. To learn basic operations for your specific digital cameras, refer to the manual that came with their digital cameras. In a small group (no more than three people) review the manual and "play" with your new camera. Can you find information about:
 * GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAMERA!**
 * Software
 * Battery & SD Card
 * Date/Time & Charging the Date/Time Battery
 * Digital Zoom
 * Menu Settings and Factory Defaults
 * Flash/Red-eye
 * Shooting Close Ups/Infinity Shots
 * Self Timer
 * Viewing Images
 * Shooting a Movie - Viewing a Movie
 * Connecting Camera to Computer
 * SD Cards Estimated Capacity
 * Importing and Basic Editing with iPhoto/Picasa.


 * DIGITAL CAMERA CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES**
 * 1) [|Utah's eMINTS MyEDesk website] - Year 1 Resources - Digital Cameras
 * 2) Missouri's [|eMINTS Password Protected Site]
 * 3) Rachel's [|Del.ic.ious] Digital Camera Favorites