Week Eleven Reflection

1. What is visual literacy? Where and when is it learned? Why is it important? Contrast Internet broadcasts, live cams, and Net meetings. How can each of these Internet-based video technologies be used in teaching and learning.



Visual literacy is the understanding and interpreting of visual information, such as signs and displays. It is learned throughout a person’s life in formal and informal ways. Visual literacy can be learned in many ways. It is an important aspect for all academic subject areas. While a great deal of visual literacy is learned in school, a lot of it is learned outside of school also. It is important to have well-developed visual literacy skills because they help you effectively function in today’s society. Most of us learned early in life to stay away from products that displayed the skull and cross-bone or the green frowning face with the tongue sticking out. These images helped us remember not to touch or take the product they were associated with. Visual literacy has probably saved quite a few lives.

Internet broadcasts are programs that are broadcasted over the Internet live. They can also be made available for later use. In order for viewers to see the programs, a video player must be installed. Teachers can have students listen to and/or obtain information from various programs that are currently being broadcasted over the internet.

Live cams are cameras that take images and transmit the images to a computer. The images are then sent out over the internet. Live cams can allow children to experience settings they would not otherwise be able to experience. Take the cameras found in the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. There are a number of animals with their own ‘shows’. Children can learn about animals they’ve just read about. They can also learn about animals that may not be available at the nearest zoo. With all the education budget cuts, the cameras may prove to be an invaluable virtual field trip tool. While I’ve only mentioned animals, there is really no limit to the areas where live cams could be used. Let’s say I was teaching a cooking class and wanted to show my students how busy the kitchen could be at a certain time of day. If a local restaurant or catering business had a live cam setup, the students could see all the ins and outs of the daily operations.

Net meetings are meetings or interactions between people using video cameras. Participants also have speakers and microphones that enable them to hear and be heard. Teachers can use net meetings as ways to expose students to experts that might not by any other means, be available. If a teacher has access to equipment such as the PolyCom system, virtual field trips can be taken to another level. The PolyCom system consists of two monitors, a video camera that is sensitive to movement, a microphone, and speakers. Not only can students see different exhibits and environments, they can also interact with experts by asking questions or hearing presentations. Students can also interact with students in different schools, cities, states, or even countries. While people on both ends of the camera are able to interact during internet meetings, this is not possible with live cams or broadcasts.