While it may seem that illustrated books are only for young children, many studies have proven that visuals enhance learning. Students react to information taught through visuals faster than they do through text.
Two experiments showed that creating a visual explanation was superior to a verbal one for high and low-spatial ability students. This is because the visualizations encouraged completeness, involving crucial invisible components.
Visuals help in recalling facts.
Visuals help students remember facts by concretely presenting them. They are more effective than words alone, and they have the power to evoke an emotional response in students. As a result, they increase retention and improve memorization.
In addition, visuals can support a student’s comprehension by encouraging them to connect new information with existing knowledge. By using visuals to introduce new concepts, teachers can also facilitate the development of higher-order thinking skills.
In one study, researchers used eye-tracking to observe how children responded to a commercially available beginning reader storybook. They compared the Standard condition, which contained many extraneous illustrations, to the Streamlined shape that eliminated these extra details. The results showed that the irrelevant information in the Standard book promoted attentional competition and hindered reading comprehension. On the other hand, the streamlined storybook allowed students to concentrate on the text more quickly and improved their reading comprehension. The researchers believe that this is because the visuals aided in forming associations between words and familiar images. It can also help young learners advanced concept learning in different ways.
Visuals enhance engagement
The visuals in picture books naturally appeal to young children, making it easier to grab their attention and keep them engaged. This helps them develop reading stamina and prepares them for tackling longer texts later. Children also gain the ability to analyze visually, which will assist them in interpreting other types of text.
The manipulated within-subjects design compared a commercially available illustrated book in which extraneous illustrations were removed (“Streamlined”) with the same book without such enhancements (the “Standard” condition). In a calibration study, participants were asked to outline the illustration details relevant to the story and those not. Only the illustration details outlined by 90% or more participants were included in the Streamlined condition.
Using visuals in presentations speeds up communicating information to your team and makes it more memorable. Moreover, narrated screencasts of your presentations can be re-watched whenever new team members join your organization. This way, you can eliminate time-consuming in-person training sessions.
Visuals motivate learners
Teachers who want to engage students with a topic can use visual aids such as storyboards, comic strips, and flowcharts. They can also present maps, arrows, and timelines to help students understand the progression of a topic. Teachers can also incorporate works of art with unique formats and handmade pieces from other countries to illustrate how culture impacts their artwork. These visuals help reinforce Common Core standards related to visual literacy.
Another advantage of visuals is that they can motivate learners. The emotional response associated with visuals triggers memory and helps learners overcome boredom. They can also inspire interest in the subject matter and encourage students to work hard in school.
Visuals can also help new employees onboard faster by presenting information in ways that are easy to understand. For example, narrated videos are a great way to teach the basics of an organization’s software basics and save time on face-to-face training sessions.
Visuals help in overcoming boredom.
Many people feel that boredom is wrong, but it can be beneficial. It simulates creativity and problem-solving and gives the brain time to recharge. But spending too much time on electronics can make us feel tired instead of refreshed.
Illustrated books help kids overcome boredom because they are visually stimulating and easy to remember. They are also great tools for teaching children about complex subjects. For example, illustrated books on the solar system can help students memorize planets and satellites.
While it may seem counterintuitive to encourage boredom, experts say it’s an excellent way to help kids develop creativity and problem-solving skills. When they get bored, ask them to think creatively to find a solution and then encourage them to follow through on their ideas. This can also help them learn to manage their emotions in healthy ways. Then, when they’re ready to switch activities, they can focus on tasks more effectively.
