This document includes 46 papers presented at the International Visual Literacy Association Conference on topics ranging from prehistoric cave paintings to technology of the future. Major sections are devoted to research and theory, education, computer technology, and phototherapy. Emphasis is on increased understanding of opportunities available…

Art studies is a sequence of experiences intended to enhance Alberta, Canada students' knowledge in the discipline of art, emphasizing the student as critic, consumer, and historian. Art 11 surveys the role of the artifact in every day life. Art 21 surveys the history of art in western culture. Art 31 examines the impact of international influence…

Written by participants in a summer workshop on media literacy, this guide is intended for use by teachers of students in grades seven through twelve. The main portion of the guide is composed of a unit of study dealing with manipulation in advertising. The unit contains four lessons covering the following areas: (1) advertising as manipulation,…

Following a discussion of the similarities and differences among the various communications media, the two main sections of this monograph describe ways to teach the skills of viewing and to study the moving image. The assumption is that television and film have unique characteristics that differentiate them from speech and books, requiring…

This study examined the specific effects of picture and object stimuli on two types of language performance: comprehension and performance. Subjects were 48 4- and 5-year-olds who were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Groups were matched for SES, sex, and age and tested individually with one of the four measures: language comprehension…

If a student reaches high school and cannot read, the only route to success may lie in a media-oriented curriculum. In line with this philosophy, this report describes an experimental media-based curriculum developed to capitalize on the students' ability to grasp the visual image in situations where they cannot grasp the written image. The…

Results of a summer training seminar for elementary art teachers showed that students taught by teachers trained in aesthetic education demonstrate a measurable increase in their sensitivity to aesthetic stimuli. The seminar is described and the evaluation results are discussed. (RM)

Describes children's reactions to a television adaptation of a juvenile novel. Finds that the children enjoyed discussing the adaptation with the interviewer and usually sought out the original book to read on their own. Concludes that both books and their televised version should be incorporated into a wider approach to teaching fiction. (MM)

Picture books are useful tools for teaching many abstract and complex concepts of the social studies at the elementary level. They allow students to develop visual literacy through sustained viewing time necessary for exploration, critique, and reflection on the images portrayed. Numerous examples of picture books are presented to support such…

Visual literacy is a culturally-derived strength of Native American students. On a continent with more than 200 languages, Native Americans relied heavily on visual intelligence for trade and communication between tribes. Tribal people interpreted medicine paint, tattoos, and clothing styles to determine the social roles of those with whom they…

This book, which focuses on strategies for content area literacy, employs a step-by-step approach to help students comprehend content area texts, effectively express their ideas in writing, and acquire the literacy skills they need to succeed. The book provides a research-based framework for teaching reading and writing with strategies for…

Approaches taken in the United States and France to use of visual pedagogy are compared and discussed. The necessity of integrating semiotic theory and visual pedagogy is underscored, a semiotic model of visual literacy and decoding is outlined, and some advertisements are analyzed, giving suggestions for teaching use. (MSE)

Presents activities related to material included in the Winter 1997 "OAH Magazine of History" (v11 n2). The activities are linked to photographs appearing in the theme issue on labor history. Activities include discussion questions and writing assignments related to the photographs. (MJP)

Outlines four exercises for high school students to demonstrate how people perceive color differently because of changing light conditions, varying viewpoints, and the viewer's preconceived notions of color. Maintains that an artist can use color perception to control a viewer's mood. (KM)

Points out the limitations of the Cartesian epistemology underlying most art education textbooks. Explores the ideas of Gregory Bateson and Ellen Dissanayake who express a semiotic view of artistic creation that is multidimensional. Suggest implications for art education. (KM)