The brain processes visual information 60,000 faster than text.
- -- 90% of the information that comes to the brain is visual -- -
40% of all nerve fibers connected to the brain are linked to the retina
Visual aids in the classroom improve learning by 400%
- The Visual Teaching Alliance
Studies show that only 30% of students are auditory learners, yet 80% of what is done in the classroom is auditory based. So how are the rest of the students learning during that 80% of time?
The answer is they are most likely not. When students aren't learning or focused on a task they are more likely to cause disruptions, be distractors to students who are trying to learn and are prone to misbehavior.
It is not only students that are becoming more visual, the world in which we live in is as well. Students are growing up in a time with 3D movies, television, video games, computers, smart phones, and the internet, etcetera. Recently there have been reports showing that students will spend an average of eight hours a day in front of a screen, be it the television, phone, or computer. The world is becoming a more visual place and the students who are growing up with it are as well. Old instructional methods will not reach the younger generations and it is now more important than ever that educators differentiate their instruction methods to include the 70% of the class they are currently leaving out. This means instructors need to become proficient visual teachers by providing students with visual stimulation accompanied by active learning strategies. By understanding and incorporating visual culture and technology into the classroom students will be better equipped for success in their future learning and more prepared for the society in which they will live and work.
Who is a Visual Learner ??? Visual Learner: Someone who learns best through seeing information. Characteristics of visual learners are as follows:
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Examples of Instructional Tools to aid Visual Learners:
Click on the word to learn more information
Some of the images at the beginning of this post are by illustrator, Autumn Whitehurst.