Visual Summary
The purpose of the visual summary is to create a visual representation of the text or lesson that summarizes what was learned. This can be done through an illustration, storyboard, PowerPoint, or other ideas students come up with. Mimi Miller and Nancy Veatch, authors of Literacy in Context, stated that "for example, designing magazine covers to summarize what has been read is motivating because it allows readers to use visual images to connect, synthesize, and understand the big picture of the text." A visual summary is different than a graphic organizer because it shows the important information through visualization. To scaffold students towards using this strategy independently, perform a draw aloud, much like a think aloud. Make sure when teaching this strategy, that the students understand the focus of the visual should be in the message that it conveys rather than the actual drawing itself. It is important to understand that this strategy, as well as the others on this website, can be used across disciplines.
Approximately 40% of learners are visual learners. This strategy would benefit them in a lot of different ways and prepare them for college and career. At times, college professors only teach lecture and by lecture, I mean they sit at the front of the classroom and talk. If students can independently use this strategy by the time they graduate and they need the visual aspect, they will do much better in the class than if someone did not know this strategy and needed the visual cues. Clarke, I. (2012).
Approximately 40% of learners are visual learners. This strategy would benefit them in a lot of different ways and prepare them for college and career. At times, college professors only teach lecture and by lecture, I mean they sit at the front of the classroom and talk. If students can independently use this strategy by the time they graduate and they need the visual aspect, they will do much better in the class than if someone did not know this strategy and needed the visual cues. Clarke, I. (2012).
What are some examples where I could use a visual summary?You can use visual summaries to:
summarize a concept summarize a section of a text summarize an entire book summarize a social students lesson summarize an educational video clip summarize a class lecture illustrate simple picture books to explain physic concepts |
Variation of the visual summary
This strategy can be varied many different ways. One way is by having the students create a visual summary for a younger age group. This benefits both groups, the older student is practicing the creation of the visual summary (and maybe even an oral summary) and the younger student is receiving a learning opportunity.
Writing Implementation
With just the visual summary, there really isn't any writing involved. However, you may adjust the strategy to meet some writing requirements. For example, students could be assigned a visual summary and then asked to write an oral summary or a gist about their visual summary and how the visual summary relates and summarizes the content being covered.
Video- Visual Summary ExampleThe video to the right is an example of a visual summary. This video is more for teachers and older students to reference, in terms of the content, but it is a good example to take notes from to get ideas on how you could implement visual summaries into the classroom.
The video below this text, is not specifically about the visual summarizing strategy, but it really addresses how "doodling" or creating visual notes help students increase comprehension. The information on this video is very beneficial, however some content is touchy on topic. |
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Resources
References
Clarke, I. (2012). Teaching the Visual Learner: The Use of Visual Summaries in Marketing Education. SAGE journals. Retrieved June 12, 2014 from http://jmd.sagepub.com/content/28/3/218.abstract
Duarte Inc. (2011, February 22). Sunni Brown at Duarte. Retrieved June 13, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYsH5nwCtpU
Miller, M., & Veatch, N. (2011). Literacy in context (LinC): Choosing instructional strategies to teach reading in content areas for students grades 5-12. Boston: Pearson.
UX Mastery. (2014, April 8). Visual Summary of Sunni Brown's "The Doodle Revolution" Retrieved June 13, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8sGNdGrL4o
Duarte Inc. (2011, February 22). Sunni Brown at Duarte. Retrieved June 13, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYsH5nwCtpU
Miller, M., & Veatch, N. (2011). Literacy in context (LinC): Choosing instructional strategies to teach reading in content areas for students grades 5-12. Boston: Pearson.
UX Mastery. (2014, April 8). Visual Summary of Sunni Brown's "The Doodle Revolution" Retrieved June 13, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8sGNdGrL4o