Using Visual Literacy & the Internet in the classroom

 

Over the last two weeks I have read about and learned the value of using the Internet and visual literacy in the classroom. The impact on teaching using visuals is that students can take the abstract and see it more concretely. Visuals access a different part of the brain and help the child understand, making a stronger connection with the new information. Using the Internet expands the four walls of the classroom to include the whole world. Students will gain 21^st century skills with the help of the Internet as a tool for learning.

At the preschool level I use visuals all the time. We use them to label cubbies, show steps to hand washing, to display appropriate circle time behaviors, for the job helper chart, to label shelves, and the list goes on. We have even found that visuals help with student behaviors. When an undesired behavior occurs, we can show them an acceptable behavior visual and we start to see behaviors change over time. I typically like to use photos but I am going to implement cartoon or images that are drawn, simple illustrations, because I feel children need a mix of both the animated and actual pictures.

            Using the Internet in the classroom has its limitations with preschoolers. Although the preschoolers would not be using the Internet themselves, I look forward to setting up a Classroom News Blog. Here I would be able to keep parents updated on what is going on in class, what activities are coming up, ways they can get involved, and receive feedback from parents. This could also be a place I could post advice for parents who are struggling with preschool issues such as making friends or sleep time strategies. Being in a low-income area there are families that do not have access to the Internet. In this case I would be sure to print or post at school the latest entry to keep parents up to date. 

   

Value of a variety instructional strategies used in class

I feel it is extremely important to use a variety of instructional strategies. Instructional strategies can be teacher-centered or student-centered.  Teacher-centered strategies include presentations, demonstrations, lectures, etc. The teacher is the focus and the students follow along. This is valuable in introducing a new unit or a course of study as well as for other purposes. Length of time is important to consider. Using technology, such as a computer, Whiteboard, Overhead projector etc. can make this style of teaching more engaging. Using audio, video, pictures, graphs, etc can enhance the subject matter and get students more involved.
Student-centered strategies include discussions, role-playing, games, simulations, and problem-solving. Students learn by hands-on exploration. They learn by working individually or in teams as they collaborate with their peers. They develop critical thinking  and problem-solving skills as well as the ability to draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply, create and share knowledge. They learn how to become a contributing member of a group. Technology can be used in so many ways to enhance this learning. Students can use word documents to write and easily edit their work, create graphs and charts from the data they collected. They can create videos, power points and use the Internet for research and collaborative learning by connecting with researchers and specialists or students from another  school/country. Using both strategies in the class is very powerful and rewarding.
Each classroom has a variety of learning styles. Using just one strategy does not meet all the needs of the students. Students will get bored without a variety of ways to explore learning. Using different strategies and switching them for learning different things meets the needs of all the students, keeps them motivated and excited about learning. It teaches them to think, learn and explore in different ways. They develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills which are important for the 21st century learner.