While reading this article I was reminded of how we think students know all there is to know about the computer only to discover they don’t know how to insert page numbers or space their lines in their document. I think it is easy to assume that everyone is proficient at viewing visual input (infographics, maps, venn diagrams, etc.) when it is a skill that needs to be taught.
This article gives a nice introduction on graphicacy (I’ve never heard this word- have you?) as well as resources to find out more about teaching visual skills in the classroom.
Innovative design crosses over all aspects of education. The American Society for Innovation Design in Education, or ASIDE, seeks to infuse curriculum with new approaches to teaching and thinking. Integrating the design of information into the daily conversation is an essential part of the teacher’s toolkit and the purpose of the ASIDE blog. The underpinning of innovation and educational design is based on looking at the information available and communicating meaning for a world of learners. Thinking like a designer can transform the way children learn. ASIDE’s goal is to bring together as much information, resources and supportive scholarship in one place for teaching and learning.