The visual aspect of digital literacy has risen over recent years. A lot of people, including me, watch a lot of videos and see many pictures on the Internet. It is important that we are mindful of the rhetoric that these videos and pictures are presenting, and we interpret them with a clear mind.
One of the major aspects of the online world is the impact of visuals. Lawrence states that "a writer in the 2020s is also creating graphics, putting text on top of images, putting text into video, writing a script that becomes a video, writing content for a website that also features illustrations, and so on" (2022, p. 166). Now, not only is it important to be able to write, but you must also include your writing in a visual way to build engagement and enforce your rhetoric online. For example, videos take an idea and put it in a visual format. Another example of writing put to a visual format is the use of infographics. Infographics have gained in popularity in education and any company or person wanting to share information in a simplified way. The infographic below is one example of how a lot of information can be presented in a visually appealing way while also relaying information.
Infographics by awillis
It is important for creators of visual media to understand their stance and what they are trying to get their audience to do. The purpose of the infographic above is to support teachers in understanding how and why infographics can be useful in their classroom. A store may not choose to create an infographic for their advertisement, but instead choose a short video with a catchy jingle. On the other hand, an educational website might choose an infographic instead of a video. Lawrence discusses that "visual rhetoric, then, is the study of how visual forms of communication can be persuasive" (2022, p. 169). Keeping in mind your audience and your action is imperative when creating any type of visual media. Any slight change in color or font could rebrand everything, and the audience may or may not respond well. You also have to keep in mind that others may not have the same digital literacy skills and could misinterpret visual media. Those responsible for the look and message that companies, organizations, and people are trying to present online have an enormous job.
Here is a great resource from Edutopia for teachers to check out when considering teaching visual literacy in their classroom. Click the link
here!
References
Agtarap, K. (2021, November 15). How to incorporate visual literacy in your instruction. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-incorporate-visual-literacy-your-instruction/
Lawrence, D. (2022). Digital writing: A guide to writing for social media and the Web. [eBook edition] Ontario, Canada: Broadview Press
Without question, digital media has grown and will continue to grow as time passes. Lawrence (2022) states, "...to be a professional writer in our age is also to have a strong grasp of not just textual rhetoric but also visual and sonic rhetoric" (p. 102). At one time, it might have been considered sufficient for a professional writer to only employ textual rhetoric. However, today's world requires much more than using text alone. With the expectations of writers changing, it makes me wonder, what will a professional writer's job look like in 10-15 years?
ReplyDeleteWhen thinking about the role of infographics in education, it is evident that there can be positive outcomes for using these in the classroom. Bai (2025) shares, "Thanks to infographics, students develop cognitive abilities such as interpreting, analysing, evaluating, explaining, and drawing conclusions." We are consistently wanting our students to show higher-order thinking skills, and there is evidence that the use of infographics in the classroom can encourage students to use higher-level thinking. I believe that anything that can be implemented in the classroom to promote student learning should be given a fair try.
References
Bai, X. (2025). Product design training in industry 4.0: Using infographics and product modeling. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 62(1), 120-134. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2023.2268599
Lawrence, D. (2022). Digital writing: A guide to writing for social media and the web. Broadview Press.
Digital media has been something that has been around for as long as I can remember. It is something that this generation has grown up on, so it needs to be included in all careers. This includes writing, pictures, and videos. None of the aspects can be as persuasive on their own, so it is important to include all aspects in the classroom. Pictures and videos are a great starting point, but it is important to add the words so they know exactly what they are learning about. Lawrence says "the universe is constantly in motion" (Lawrence, 2022 p. 106). This means that things are constantly changing so it is important for people to continue to change and grow with the universe. One way to do this is to continue to learn how technology can be used in all careers.
ReplyDeleteReference
Lawrence, D. (2022). Digital writing: A guide to writing for social media and the web. Broadview Press.