I found Alfano's and O'Brian's article on how to effectively design visual arguments very helpful.
The more I read about designing visual arguments and integrating technology while teaching the more I think that combining visual and verbal design element is the future and, therefore, not to be ignored.
Do you think the four ways of how to create visual arguments, described by Alfano and O'Brian, are applicable in the english class room?
Did some of you create visual arguments already? If yes, how did it work?
Do you think that designing visual argument will inevitable lead to a decline of the written word or even literature?
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Throughout High School, for many projects I created power point presentations in addition to writing papers on various subjects. I used the power point not only to relay the most crucial information, but also to emotionally impact my audience. But using pictures, different fonts, and various visual organization patters, I found that could prove my point and make a far better argument than if i had simply read my paper to the class or had a conversation with a few classmates.
ReplyDeleteIn response to your last question...i really hope it does not. I worry about this same topic. Over the years, as I have pictured my future as an English teacher, I have always included written word and literature as the center for my teaching. I now realize I have to reconsider these views as media and digital literacy is on the rise, but I still plan to incorporate written word and literature. I think reading to understand and increase vocabulary and learning to express oneself through written thought are crucial skills to have in this world...even if they are not at the forefront of communication any more.
ReplyDeleteI heard this story on NPR's "Morning Edition" today. It's interesting for lots of reasons, but relevant to the question about visual arguments and media in general because the creators talk about how they didn't think a paper or PowerPoint would be nearly as effective as a video. It's about the difficulty of being innovative at NASA:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100346538
I attempted to infuse visual elements into a paper while in an argumentative writing course. I added funny little cartoons throughout my paper to exaggerate my points. But I found that my approach caused my paper to be taken less seriously. There are absolutely several right and a wrong ways to approach visual texts...and I'm all for it. This article has allowed me to reflect back on that experience and see where my errors where made. Stay away from the Funnies.
ReplyDeleteI don't think visual images will ever completely take over written texts because even images need an explanation. The Envision article states that "visual materials need your interpretation for readers to view it as you do" (225). In order for people to see the image in our perspective, we will have to use words to tell them what to see.
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