[work in progress]
0–3 min: Framing the Why
• Brief overview of visual literacy and why it’s a critical 21st-century skill
• Link to UDL, multimodal learning, and the needs of diverse learners
3–13 min: Real Classroom Examples
• Share 3–4 authentic student tasks across different age groups and subjects
• E.g. Primary: Character mood boards
• Middle: Science process diagrams
• Secondary: Social issue infographics or historical timelines
• Highlight how visual tasks elevate clarity, thinking, and engagement
13–25 min: Three Instructional Strategies
• Prompt It Visually: Sentence stems that get students drawing or mapping ideas
• Scaffold Structure: Using graphic frameworks like Venns, timelines, or layered posters
• Offer Choice: Let students select from visual formats to reflect understanding
25–30 min: Wrap + Takeaways
• Recap key strategies
• Share access to a downloadable teacher toolkit (visual prompt bank + framework templates)
• Optional quick reflection prompt: “What’s one way I’ll try this in the next two weeks?”
Engagement Tactics:
• Think-pair-share reflections during examples
• Live polling: “Which of these have you used?”
• Download link provided at session end for toolkit
• Presenter invites share-outs in chat or brief shout-outs
After this session, participants will be able to:
• Define visual literacy and explain its value across subject areas and grade levels
• Apply at least three instructional strategies to help students communicate ideas clearly through visuals
• Design or adapt an activity that incorporates visual frameworks like timelines, one-pagers, or infographics
• Offer students flexible, meaningful options for demonstrating learning visually
Canva x Harris Poll – Creativity in Education (2024)
Adobe Education Exchange – Visual Storytelling in the Classroom
Edutopia – Graphic Organizers That Build Thinking Skills
John Hattie – Visible Learning for Teachers
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