The majority of students in this generation of technology and change are visual learners. They learn information best by seeing it in an example format, like a picture, map, graph, or video. These students are excellent at visualizing objects, plans and outcomes in a spatial sense, and enjoy drawing out their answers in different colors to explain their thought process.
Although visual learning is typically not developed in most school systems, it can be an extremely useful tool. Once accessed, here are 7 ways visual learning can be immensely beneficial.
Allows the student to look at problems differently in a way they will understand. For example, a student may not be grasping a concept in math using numbers, but once they visualize the same concept in picture format they will understand right away and then convert their answer back to numerical form if needed.
Increases student memory of important information. Students of all ages are far more likely to remember visuals rather than words. This technique will help increase not only their memory of school work, but also of faces, directions, etc.
Builds the students understanding of the “big picture”. They will become increasingly better at overviews and summaries, and be able to visualize results.
Inspire students. Students will start to think in a far more creative, open minded way and soon they will start to create new ideas of their own.
Build the tools to make students more organized. Spatial and visual learners are more likely to organize not only their work, but in their everyday lives in terms of scheduling and appearance.
Help students learn more effectively. In a visual format students can process and retain information much faster and with more reliability. Visuals break down information into manageable pieces that are easier to absorb.
Increase the student’s interest in the subject matter. When the student gets to learn in a way that they like and understand, they will pay closer attention and the results will be more obvious.
Parents should encourage visual learning as much as possible. Some ways to expand this type of learning are to look for opportunities to work with, manipulate and/or engage new material. Take advantage of visual resources like a computer, three-dimensional models, illustrations in books or textbooks, etc. The biggest advantage is keeping the student interested and motivated to learn in a way they enjoy. Have fun creating new ways keep learning interactive!
