Teaching, Learning, and Visual Literacy: The Dual Role of Visual Representation

Visual literacy is an increasingly critical skill in a globalizing, digital world. This book addresses the core issues concerning visual literacy in education, underscoring its importance for the instruction of students and educators. Professor Billie Eilam argues that the incorporation of visual skill development in teacher training programs will help break the cycle of visual illiteracy. Understanding the pedagogical benefits and risks of visual representation can help educators develop effective strategies to produce visually literate students. Eilam presents a broad overview of theoretical knowledge regarding visual representation, as well as a discussion of best practices for the use of visual elements in schools. In addition to theory, Eilam includes practical exercises for introducing visual literacy into teacher education, offering strategies for analyzing visualization in curricula and for increasing awareness of visual culture.

Billie Eilam is Head of the Department of Learning, Instruction, and Teacher Education at the University of Haifa, Israel. Professor Eilam's research focuses on cognitive aspects of visualization in teaching, learning and curriculum, particularly in the science domain, and on applying theories to authentic learning situations. She has co-authored several books in Hebrew on the subjects of ecology and inquiry skills, presents regularly at international educational conferences, and publishes widely in leading refereed journals including Learning and Instruction, The Learning Sciences, Curriculum Studies and Contemporary Educational Psychology. Her latest published work examines visualization in biology. Professor Eilam has been actively involved in education reform efforts throughout her career, serving as the Head of the Department of Teacher Education and guiding several grant-funded curriculum development projects.