Are you a visual learner?

ByAnita Narayan

I wrote this series of articles on ‘Understanding Learning Styles‘ with a young reader in mind. I request you print and read this article with your child/student or have them read it to you! And Discuss.

Hey there, superstar!

Have you ever watched a Disney movie and remembered everything because of the bright colors and cool animations? If so, you might be a visual learner! Visual learning means you learn best when you can see things with your own eyes. It’s like having super-vision that helps you understand and remember stuff by looking at pictures, videos, charts, and all sorts of visual goodies!

Describe a Visual Learner

Imagine you have a friend named Alex. Alex loves to doodle, draw, and watch cartoons. When Alex reads a story, they picture the characters and scenes in their mind like a movie. If Alex wants to remember something, they might make a colorful diagram or a mind map. That’s what being a visual learner is all about! It’s like having a camera in your brain that takes snapshots of everything you see.

What are Characteristics of a Visual Learner?
Visual learners are like artistic superheroes with these amazing powers:

  • Picture Power: They remember things by turning them into pictures in their mind.
  • Diagram Dynamos: They love using charts, graphs, and diagrams to understand information.
  • Color Champions: Highlighters and colorful pens are their best friends.
  • Movie Masters: They learn a lot from watching videos and animations.
  • Drawing Detectives: They often draw and doodle to help them think.

Some cool facts about visual learners that you might not know!

  • Super Fast Brains: Did you know that our brains can understand pictures way faster than words? In fact, your brain can process images 60,000 times faster than reading text. That’s like superhero speed!​ 
  • Better Memory with Pictures: If you see a picture along with information, you’ll remember 65% of it after three days. But if you only hear the information, you might only remember 10% of it. Pictures really help things stick in your brain!​
  • Feelings and Pictures: Pictures can make you feel things much faster and stronger than words. This means you’re more likely to remember things that make you feel happy, sad, or excited when you see them in a picture​.
  • Keeping Your Attention: People can get distracted in just 8 seconds, or even in just under 3 seconds sometimes. But if you’re looking at pictures or watching videos, it’s easier to stay focused​.
  • Learning Better: Using pictures and other visual tools can help you learn up to 400% better. That’s why teachers use charts, diagrams, and videos in class—they really help you understand and remember what you’re learning​.
  • So, next time you’re learning something new, remember to use your amazing visual learning superpowers! Whether you’re drawing, watching, or just imagining colorful scenes in your mind, you’re making learning a fun adventure. Happy learning, young explorers!

Here are five cool STEM jobs where seeing things helps a lot:

  1. Engineer: Engineers design and build things like bridges, cars, and robots. They use pictures and computer drawings to make sure everything works right before they build it.
  2. Data Scientist: Data scientists look at lots of numbers and information. They use charts and graphs to help them find patterns and understand what the numbers mean.
  3. Biologist: Biologists study living things like plants, animals, and tiny germs. They use microscopes and pictures to see things up close and learn how they work.
  4. Astronomer: Astronomers study the stars, planets, and space. They use big telescopes to take pictures of the sky and use those pictures to learn about the universe.
  5. Software Developer (UI/UX Designer): These tech experts design how apps and websites look and work. They make sure everything is easy to use and looks great by drawing and planning it out first.

For PARENTS…

How can you help your visual learner?

Visual learning is super handy in places like school, home, and even on adventures! It’s most applicable in:

  • Use School Resources: Teachers use pictures, videos, and diagrams to explain things. You can encourage your kids to do the same at home with Math picture books and learning channels that focus on teaching STEM concepts either from the school or on your own. Many schools will allow parents to borrow books for Homeschooling subjects.
  • Take the Library’s Help: There are tons of colorful books with amazing illustrations.
  • Do Home Projects: Crafts and DIY projects are perfect for visual learners because they involve making and seeing cool stuff.
  • Create Visual Adventures: Like in treasure maps, where you need to see the map to find the hidden treasure!

Why is Visual Learning Important in Math?

Math can be tricky, but visual learning makes it fun and easy! Here’s why:

  • Seeing Patterns: Visual learners can spot patterns in numbers and shapes, like finding the next number in a sequence or recognizing shapes.
  • Understanding Concepts: Visual tools like graphs and charts help them understand tricky math concepts.
  • Solving Problems: Drawing pictures or diagrams can make solving math problems feel like solving a puzzle.

What are Visual Learning Strategies and Study Skills Specifically for Math?

Here are some cool tricks for visual learners to conquer math like a boss:

  • Use Colorful Charts: Make bar graphs, pie charts, and line graphs to represent data.
  • Draw Diagrams: Sketch out problems to see them more clearly.
  • Watch Math Videos: Find fun videos that explain math concepts.
  • Create Flashcards: Use flashcards with pictures and colors to remember math facts.
  • Play Math Games: Engage with math through interactive games and apps.

How is Visual Learning Useful to the Teacher?

Teachers love visual learners because:

  • Engaging Lessons: They can use fun and creative ways to teach, like videos, drawings, and interactive whiteboards.
  • Better Understanding: When teachers see students using visual aids, they can understand how well the students grasp the material.
  • Creative Projects: Visual learners often come up with amazing and colorful projects that brighten up the classroom.
  • Diverse Teaching Methods: Teachers can mix it up with different teaching tools, keeping the class exciting and fun.

Tools and Strategies for visual learning in the Primary Math classroom:

  1. Visual Aids and Manipulatives:
    • Base Ten Blocks: Help children understand place value and number sense.
    • Fraction Circles and Bars: Visualize fractions and their relationships.
    • Pattern Blocks: Explore shapes, symmetry, and patterns.
  2. Interactive Whiteboards and Apps:
    • SmartBoard: Allows for dynamic visual presentations and interactive problem-solving.
    • Math Apps: Apps like Splash Math and DragonBox offer visually engaging math games.
  3. Charts and Graphs:
    • Number Lines and Graphs: Illustrate number sequences, operations, and data relationships.
    • Anchor Charts: Display key math concepts and strategies in a visual format.

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