Well known Visual Learners: What We Can Learn from Them?
I specifically wrote this artcile to be an easy read for a young learner to help them understand their strengths and abilities to learn anything. Even the things that they find boring, especially for the things they find boring. When children become more aware of their learning preferences and feel enabled to create or use tools to manage their learning, it builds immense confidence in them to master any subject matter with ease.
This awareness of HOW they choose to learn being separate than WHAT they are learning, being seperate than their ABILITY to learn is called Meta-cognition.
We want kids to practice thinking about thinking:
What is it that I am trying to learn?
For e.g lets say they are doing a word problem for Addition. They are not just doing Math… They are figuring out what parts of the sentence gives them the clue of what to add.
Is it really addition?
What are they asking for as an answer?
What is my clue for adding?
Where will I see this type of problem again?
How can I learn best?
Should I write, can I draw it out?
Does it help if I read it out loud?
Sing it maybe?
What comes to me naturally, so my brain will solve it!
If one way doesn’t work, I have other options to try.
If I can’t figure it out the first time, is there a different way I can do it?
Should I ask for help?
Can I do it with a friend?
Should I look at a problem we did in the class before?
I will take a 5 minute break and try it again!
“I am a curious learner and the outcome does not reflect on my ability to learn.“
This is the mindset we need to cultivate from a young age. Building meta-cognition skills in young children gives them a growth mindset to become life-long self-learners. This kind of thinking requires intention and practice until it becomes second nature.
How to use this article?
- Read it with them or better yet, have them read it to you. This will build their vocabulary and knowledge about themselves and others around them. Understanding others will build empathy in their interactions and towards themselves.
- Read a book about these personalities and reflect on what really inspired you about them.
- Create a fun game to use one ore more of the visual learning strategies.
- Play for a month and reflect upon how it improved your learning. Make a little booklet with answers to these questions –
- 1. Did you learn more? How do you know?
- 2. Did you learn faster? How did you measure that?
- 3. Did you enjoy the process? Why or Why not?
- 4. Did it help you learn something you did not like to learn?
- Share this with your classrom or your local library, teach other children how to learn.
Lets get started…
Visual learning is a powerful tool that has shaped the minds of some of the most influential figures in history. These famous visual learners used their unique ability to understand and remember information through visual means to achieve greatness. Let’s dive into their stories and see what we can learn from them!
1. Leonardo da Vinci
Who Was He?
Leonardo da Vinci was a true Renaissance man. He was an artist, scientist, and inventor, famous for masterpieces like the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper.”
How Was He a Visual Learner?
Leonardo’s notebooks were filled with sketches and diagrams that detailed his observations and ideas. He visualized complex concepts through detailed drawings, which helped him understand and innovate in both art and science.
What Can We Learn?
- Use Diagrams: Like Leonardo, try using sketches and diagrams to break down complex information. It can make difficult concepts easier to understand.
- Observation Skills: Enhance your observation skills by drawing what you see. This practice can improve your attention to detail and memory.
2. Albert Einstein
Who Was He?
Albert Einstein was a theoretical physicist known for his groundbreaking theory of relativity. His work revolutionized our understanding of time, space, and energy.
How Was He a Visual Learner?
Einstein often used thought experiments and visualizations to explore and understand complex scientific concepts. He famously visualized himself riding alongside a beam of light, which helped him develop his theories about the nature of light and time.
What Can We Learn?
- Thought Experiments: Try visualizing scenarios in your mind to solve problems or understand new concepts.
- Creative Visualization: Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and use your imagination to explore new ideas.
3. Nikola Tesla
Who Was He?
Nikola Tesla was an inventor and electrical engineer known for his contributions to the development of alternating current (AC) electrical systems and many other innovations.
How Was He a Visual Learner?
Tesla had a remarkable ability to visualize his inventions in great detail. He could see his ideas fully formed in his mind before he built them, which allowed him to test and refine his designs without needing to create physical prototypes first.
What Can We Learn?
- Mental Visualization: Practice visualizing your ideas in detail before you start working on them. This can help you identify potential problems and solutions early on.
- Innovative Thinking: Use your visual learning skills to think creatively and come up with new ideas and inventions.
4. Thomas Edison
Who Was He?
Thomas Edison was an American inventor and businessman best known for inventing the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the electric light bulb.
How Was He a Visual Learner?
Edison kept detailed notebooks filled with drawings and notes about his experiments and inventions. He used these visual records to track his progress and refine his ideas.
What Can We Learn?
- Keep Visual Records: Maintain a visual diary or notebook to jot down and sketch your ideas. It helps you keep track of your progress and can inspire new ideas.
- Perseverance: Edison’s visual learning methods show the importance of persistence and continuous improvement.
5. Walt Disney
Who Was He?
Walt Disney was a pioneer in the animation industry and the founder of Disneyland and Walt Disney World. His vision created a lasting legacy in entertainment and animation.
How Was He a Visual Learner?
Disney used storyboards extensively to plan his animations and films. These visual tools allowed him to see how the story would unfold and make necessary adjustments before production.
What Can We Learn?
- Storyboarding: Use storyboards to plan out projects or stories visually. It helps you organize your thoughts and see the big picture.
- Visionary Thinking: Visual learners can use their skills to create and share compelling stories and ideas.
Conclusion
These famous visual learners show us the power of visual thinking and how it can lead to remarkable achievements. By adopting some of their strategies, like using diagrams, visualizing ideas, and keeping visual records, we can enhance our learning and creative abilities. Whether you’re solving complex problems or creating new inventions, embracing your visual learning style can help you reach new heights.