WHY IS VISUAL LEARNING SO SUCCESSFUL FOR STUDENTS?

The truth is, most students enjoy learning by looking at words and reading images. Here, Anthony Koshy, Principal, Global Indian International School looks at the young mind to understand why it prefers flipping through a photo book but not so much a textbook.

Eliza is an intellectually curious second grader who is preparing a project on ‘Your Favourite Shape.’ She chooses to draw a plane figure with four equal sides and four right angles (a square!) However, would the word 'square' have any meaning if her mind had no ‘image’ of the square to compare it to? This example demonstrates not just the power but also the necessity of visual learning.

A picture paints a thousand words

Going back to the example mentioned above, it’s easier to understand why neither one nor 11 words can do what a single image can. But more importantly, this picture superiority effect is supported by science. The Visual Teaching Alliance found that the human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text.

So, what happens when your child learns complex concepts by pairing them with meaningful images? They're able to retain gargantuan volumes of information with ease! Students are never afraid of learning; they simply detest the black-and-white text-only approach.

2+2=4 is not always as simple as it sounds

Ever wondered why your child sometimes doesn’t get 2+2 right? Well, the definition of ‘simple’ is worlds apart between a five-year-old and us adults. Your ideal approach could be something like this: Promise to reward your young child with two chocolates for good performance, then give two more as a special extra for doing so well. Then ask: ‘How many chocolates do you have?’ The child will exclaim in excitement, four!. This way, they will have a clear understanding of the simple concept of addition, and a feeling of utter joy.