The art of learning never dies, regardless of age, time, or place. The only thing that changes is the assimilation process. What was once simple reading and writing has evolved into more profound visual learning. And Leonardo Da Vinci's quote still rings true today: "Learning never exhausts the mind."
Today's students are inundated with knowledge, from academia, social media platforms, books, news channels, and so on. However, data can only be understood when it becomes valuable, not simply when it is made available. Information visualisation, which has arisen from studies in human-computer interaction, computer science, graphics, visual design, psychology, and quantitative data analysis, is a powerful means of making sense of this data.
Since visual information is more acceptable than simply written information, in this rapidly changing world, schools are implementing a new technique of learning known as visualisation.
The Concept
Visualisation is essentially, as the term implies, the generation of images while reading, which increases the reader's active engagement with the text. This strategy has been shown to increase comprehension. Many educational institutions are incorporating this new method to improve the learning experience of their students. This idea is more active because children are exposed to a variety of visuals on a daily basis, as opposed to reading, which is regarded as a more passive activity. Simply put, visualisation breathes new life into anything one reads by using their own imagination. Using this method, students of all ages can be transformed from passive to active readers while crossing mental boundaries.
The Methodology
Visualisation is not a new notion; it has been used for centuries. The only difference is that the field of visualisation has expanded. Many academics use the direct modelling method, in which active thought processes are used to visualise text. Begin with a well-known fiction read-aloud. Describe images in your thoughts while you read a short passage.
Furthermore, in order to visualise any information, a visual representation of one or more of its data attributes or types must be created. This entails mapping these qualities to visual elements such as shape, size, orientation, and so on.
Drawing is another way of visualisation in which pupils can create their own images of the material being read. The act of drawing a picture might assist pupils understand the concept of visualisation.
It is critical that visualisation be incorporated into every class on a regular basis. Many students who struggle with the concept will benefit from their peers' imagination. Encourage students who are struggling to inquire about how other students came up with their ideas and to learn from one another.
When using this method, make sure to include not only physical images but also ideas for feelings the characters might have. This will test a student's critical thinking abilities, particularly their ability to make inferences. Make use of a combination of drawings and mental imagery.
Looking Ahead
Visualisation approaches are being adopted across disciplines such as e-learning as the concept of visualisation evolves. It has the capacity to change the learning process while also prompting students to reflect, boosting development and having a positive impact in an educational context.
As a result, it is correct to conclude that visualisation techniques are becoming more prevalent tools in the learning process, although additional research is needed to determine the added benefit of these visual approaches. This would be in terms of efficacy, efficiency, or other learning-related factors such as aesthetic appeal and fun.
About the author: Harshil Gala is CEO at NAVNEET TOPTECH, a fast-growing School ed-tech company that focuses on rendering eLearning solutions to schools. He has led NAVNEET TOPTECH through significant and rapid growth to emerge as the largest digital learning solution provider to top schools in India. He joined the company in 2011 as a management intern and rose to the rank of Chief Executive Officer. In his role as CEO of NAVNEET TOPTECH, he is responsible for overall growth, and expansion, and is in charge of developing key business strategies. Since taking charge as CEO, he has been instrumental in launching the CBSE curriculum and LMS, making NAVNEET TOPTECH a national player.
