This week’s reading, The Visual Connection, by Dr. Bobbe Baggio started with a brief discussion on the theory of Constructivism that is especially relevant today with its focus on the learner and how the learner constructs their knowledge. It is our hope that all students are trying to make sense of what they know and how that fits with new knowledge—in an active way. I had this exact conversation with a parent two years ago at conferences. I told a parent that her son needed to take an active role in his learning and not to let the learning pass him by. It was a wake-up call for her (and her son!) In the months following our conference this student’s grades went dramatically up as he became more invested in his education. What a joy it was to watch him grow and continue to thrive into this past year when he became a proficient reader and graduated from Systems44.
Chapter 2 dives quickly into why visuals are the key to learning. She quotes Conner (2008) and says that visuals quicken our ability to make connections. Baggio highlights the four ways we use our “vision”, both internal and external: attention—focus and concentration, perception—our own unique way of understanding the world around us, visualization—using our internal mind’s eye, and imagination—what we can create. As a kindergarten teacher I spent time with students learning environmental print. While many of my students couldn’t read, much less name the letters of the alphabet, they were able to identify McDonald’s, Target, and know which restroom to use. This seems basic, but it’s the internalization of the images that the children were focused on and they used those images to navigate the world around them. It was the hook I used to help them start reading.
Chapter 2 dives quickly into why visuals are the key to learning. She quotes Conner (2008) and says that visuals quicken our ability to make connections. Baggio highlights the four ways we use our “vision”, both internal and external: attention—focus and concentration, perception—our own unique way of understanding the world around us, visualization—using our internal mind’s eye, and imagination—what we can create. As a kindergarten teacher I spent time with students learning environmental print. While many of my students couldn’t read, much less name the letters of the alphabet, they were able to identify McDonald’s, Target, and know which restroom to use. This seems basic, but it’s the internalization of the images that the children were focused on and they used those images to navigate the world around them. It was the hook I used to help them start reading.
Chapter 3 aptly named Trilogy of the Mind goes on to explain Baggio’s theory of how people learn. The three areas incorporated in learning are: the affective domain (how you feel), the cognitive domain (what you think), and the conative domain (your instincts). Learners take in information and make it their own using these three areas. However, she notes that you have to consider the affective domain first, because as we all know, if you can't get past the emotional piece you won't get anywhere. I think this is, in part, why it's so important to create a safe learning environment for our students; one where they feel comfortable asking questions and taking risks.
As an instructional designer I’m interested in continuing this journey of The Visual Connection with Baggio so I can learn how to best design visuals to help my students learn in a way so that they will not only learn new information, but also retain that information moving forward.
As an instructional designer I’m interested in continuing this journey of The Visual Connection with Baggio so I can learn how to best design visuals to help my students learn in a way so that they will not only learn new information, but also retain that information moving forward.