21st century learners are said to be part of a visual or viewing generation. They are called as the “digital natives” where video games, computer, internet, cell phones and television are just some of the visual stimulation that they experience everyday of their lives. Hence, keeping students motivated and actively engaged in their classes can be a challenging task for teachers nowadays. However, there are some simple strategies teachers can use to help enhance students’ interest and keep them involved.By using visual stimuli teachers are more likely to maintain students’ attention and encourage active participation. By using visual aids teachers can cater for different learning styles of students.
“A picture is worth a thousand words.”This is particularly true. Visuals (or pictures) are a great tool for learning and understanding. It has been an accepted fact that learning comes primarily from what the learners have seen. A normal human being in a normal day-to-day living learns through his/her senses: 3% through taste, 3% through smell, 6% through touch, 13% through hearing and 75% through seeing. That’s the reason why the use of visuals in teaching is very important.Visual aids allow students the time they need to process what they are being asked to do. They do not disappear into thin air to be forgotten as spoken words or hand gestures do. Visuals can also help breakdown sequenced information hence, the learners learn a skill bit by bit. Visuals remain the same and are permanentwhich allow for identical rehearsal and consistent memory pathways to be created. With this rehearsal and memory of sequenced activities comes learning and understanding and ultimately increased confidence and self esteem.Furthermore, the use of visual aids creates enjoyable learning environment in the classroom. This is due to the characteristics of visual aids like sound, light and color that trigger and stimulate students’ interest in learning and thus automatically creates a fun learning environment.
It is no doubt that the use of visual aids is an effective tool in teaching- learning process. However, teachers should not rely too much on visual aids nor overdo the use of visuals in teaching.Teachers should not be replaced nor overshadowed by the visual aids. Visual aids are only tools in learning. They should be used in conjunction with other forms of communication such as speech, gestures and tactile experiences. Teachers should always remember that despite the availability of various visual resources, “teachers are still and will always be the best visual aids.”
By: Mrs. Ma. Lanie M. Gamit | Teacher II | Mariveles National Highschoo- Poblacion | Mariveles, Bataan
