Although visual learning is not developed in most school systems, the majority of students in this digital age are visual learners. They learn best with pictures, maps, graphs, and videos, than they do with text, numbers, and lectures. And let’s face it - visuals are definitely more appealing! And with this changing times, there is no going back to old school. So the best we parents can do is try and understand the appeal of visual learning.
And to the relief of all parents, visual learning is proven to have all sorts of good impacts on pupils. In fact, studies state that visual learning is more beneficial than traditional learning and listed below are a few reasons how:
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1. Simpler and Quicker Communication
Long before visual medium became popular, over 90% of people preferred bullet points over long elongated paragraphs. They are simpler to process and quicker to grasp. According to the Visual Teaching Alliance, the brain can process visuals more than 60,000 times faster than text. So, if you can show the same information pictorially or in a video format, go for it without second thoughts!
2. Visuals Stimulate Emotions
The part of human brain responsible for processing visual information is also the part responsible for emotions. When visual information processing and emotions work together, they create strong impressions on students and form longer lasting memories.
3. Adds Fun Element to Learning
“Math is fun!” said no kid ever! But, “This game is so cool!” “This video is such fun!” are turning out to be common phrases in visual learning-led classrooms. Visual learning establishes a connection with the subject and engages the kid a long way in study topics. With visuals, there is very little scope for monotony, sluggishness, and fatigue.
4. Drives Motivation and Independence
When kids are disinterested in a study topic, it is hard for them to find the motivation to invest the effort they need to learn. In such cases, visuals aid as the perfect boredom busters and motivate students to dive deep into learning without making it feel like a task. In comparison to reading and memorizing from a printed book, educational videos are a better tool to engage in self-study, which creates a much greater impact on young brains. 5. Accessibility
With the deteriorating attention span of students, getting them to concentrate on a topic for more than 8 seconds can prove a task without the aid of visuals. And adding to that is personal preference and favourites. Every kids’ wants and needs are different. While it is impossible to print out varied textbooks for diverse needs of the audience, it is easier and practically possible to personalise learning experience through visual mediums.
Studies are still being conducted around the globe to prove the other powers of visual aids in learning for young kids. But all the results so far show that visuals help improve learning tremendously and on multiple levels. They have a great impact on young minds and positively so. So if your child is exposed to visual learning tools and having fun at it, it’s time for you to take a breather and a sigh of relief.