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Research Update 6.2 Visual Imagery
Decades of empirical studies show that mental imagery, concreteness, and verbal association play major roles in representing and comprehending knowledge, learning, remembering school material, engaging in effective instruction, maintaining individual differences, and increasing motivation (Clark & Paivio, 1991).

Response:
I found this research update to be memorable because I believe that different imagery can be used as an effective tool in learning.  The brain has 30 times more visual nerve fibers than auditory fibers.  This tells me that a lesson that integrates art instead of a boring lecture would not only be more fun, but also more beneficial.   Using concrete examples help students to analyze abstract concepts.  It would be much easier for young students to grasp different math concepts by learning with concrete models rather than a teacher going straight to the board to work out problems.  Visual thinking is apparent in childhood and should be utilized to aid in learning.   Strong evidence also points to visual images influencing comprehension.  When a reader creates a mental image in their mind that correlates with what is being read, comprehension and text recall is significantly greater.  Einstein himself claimed that he rarely thought in words and only used them to express thoughts after he had formed them visually.  Thinking relies on images, and learning relies on thinking; visual art integration is therefore a central component to communication.  Visual imagery is connected with increased thinking and comprehension.

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.
DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

rocastroable. (2012, August 12). visual imagery. Retrieved September 30, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSU0QsvfWSs

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Resources:

 

Lesson Planning: Lesson Planet

This is a great website that offers a variety of lesson resources.  I like how the site is organized by subjects, resource types, and standards.  The site also provides additional resources such as technology integration.

 

Lesson Planet. (1999). Retrieved September 30, 2017, from https://www.lessonplanet.com/search?type_ids%5B%5D=357917

 

Game/Activity Based Learning: Education.com

This site offers a lot of hands-on activites and games for students.  The site even lets you sort through the different games and activies by grade level.  The games on the site are wonderful to help teach and can be modified to meet different needs.  This is site is a great resource to have, as educational play and collaboration are an integral part of learning.

 

education.com. (2006). Hands-on Games for Kids. Retrieved September 30, 2017, from https://www.education.com/activity/offline-games/

 

Museum: LACMA

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art has an education department with a full time staff.  They offer an afterschool program that explores the arts.  LACMA also has an educatioinal partnership with LAUSD and the surrounding districts, where schools receive artist-led workshops, curriculum materials, and professional development opportunities.  There are also art classes and camps provided at the museum, guided visits for school groups, and a number of other art resources for children.

 

LACMA. Retrieved September 30, 2017, from http://www.lacma.org/schools-teachers/about-education

 

YouTube/Video: Creativity in the Classroom

In this video, award- winning children's book author, Catherine Thimmesh discusses why creativity is an essential tool for today's studetns.  Thimmesh explains what having creativity in the classroom means, and gives examples that teachers can use to help foster creativity.

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.
DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

Thimmesh, C. (2014, November 4). Creativity in the Classroom | Catherine Thimmesh | TEDxUniversityofStThomas. Retrieved September 30, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nASvIgSOCxw

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Art-Based Comic: Frank and Ernest

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User-uploaded Content
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Cartoonist Group [Online image]. Retrieved September 30, 2017 from http://www.thecomicstrips.com/subject/The-Leonardo+Da+Vinci-Comic-Strips.php

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Norton Simon Museum Visit

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DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

Essay on Mary Blair

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.
DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.