A Picture is Worth 1000 Words to a Visual Learner

A Visual learner is someone with a visual learning style or “Visual / Spatial Intelligence.” According to Gardner’s Model of Multiple Intelligences, a visual learner “prefers graphs, pictures, and diagrams. They look for visual representations of information” (Mindtools, n.d.).

“This intelligence, which relies on the sense of sight and being able to visualize an object, includes the ability to create internal mental images/pictures. Visual/spatial intelligence is triggered by presenting the mind with and/or creating unusual, delightful, and colorful designs, patterns, shapes, and pictures, and engaging in active imagination through such things as visualization guided imagery, and pretending exercises,” (Learning Styles).

Nusa Maal (2004) says visual learners make up 20% – 40% of the population. That means a large number of people are visual learners, however most teaching is auditory or text-based.

It’s important for you to know your visual learner has strong image-processing abilities. He or she also wants images for learning, rather than words or talking. Visual learners like content with anything the learner sees and is processed in the image center of the brain.

Visuals can include pictures, photos, drawings, charts, graphs, tables, diagrams, videos, demonstrations, etc.  They also include three-dimensional things like museum exhibits, animals in a zoo, or a person showing a skill.

Research Shows Reading is Not a Visual Learning Activity:

It may surprise you, but reading is not a visual learning activity. “Reading might seem, on the surface, to be a ‘visual’ activity. Research indicates that making sense of a string of syllables, words, sentences, and paragraphs is a left-brain (linear-sequential-analytical) function. Any visual learner may or may not learn well through reading. Many do not. Other types of information such as pictures, images, maps, charts, diagrams, and melodies are primarily processed in the part of the brain that specializes in perceiving patterns and integrating component parts into a recognizable whole” (Dalton & Farmer, 2002, p. 389).

Just as reading is not a visual learning activity, text shown on a T.V. or computer screen, text-based presentations, and any other text-based teaching isn’t visual either.

If your child is a good reader, then reading can be a useful way of learning. However, when you are designing your lessons, remember reading is not really a visual learning activity.

As a home schooling parent, you can find visually “rich” ways of teaching your Visual Learner. Your child is likely to learn faster & better with visual teaching methods. Multimedia software programs and videos are ideal for a visual learner. Many hands-on activities are also great for teaching a Visual Learner.

As you go through this tutorial, you will learn more about a variety of visual learning activities. If you have a variety of visuals to teach your Visual Learner, then your child learns more easily. I recommend going through the tutorial in order, so you will learn the best way to teach your child. However, you can jump ahead to the list of visual learning activities now if you’re short on time.