Project+2

Virtual Tour Kawonna Jackson June 16, 2003 
 * Introduction **

Visual literacy is used to engage the reader through photographs and images. Messages are provided to the reader through these photographs and images. Visual literacy is education that enhances understanding of the role and function of images in representation and communication, especially in the media, Newfield (2011). As educators we are discovering new and innovative ways to bring the outside world into the classroom through media integration. One of these ways includes taking a virtual tour. Virtual tours may help enhance learning while reinforcing skills needed for a particular subject. In sum, an informed use of visual imagery can enhance the exploration of curriculum content if based on teacher knowledge of content, of the language through which photographs speak, and of the language needed to talk about content and image, Britsch (2012) The following standards were chosen to compare the four different websites for review from ACRL Visual Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education, (2011): Criteria of Image, Appropriateness and Intended Audience, Visual Media Types, Textual Information, and Citations and Credit Statements. The first site I viewed was The Smithsonian Institute: Africa Cosmos. This site was interesting if you are fascinated with learning about different astronomy. The second site was the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. This site gives you an opportunity to view different pictures of people who lived through the Holocaust and you were able to view and listen to their story as well. The next site was Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University. This site tells the story of campus life. The final site was The White House. This site gives images and detailed descriptions of particular rooms inside the White House and what they are used for. 
 * C ****omparison Chart and Discussion **
 * || [|Smithsonian Institute (Africa Cosmos)] || [|U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum] || [|Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University] || [|The White House] ||
 * **Criteria of Image ** || Images were visually appealing. There was no negative space. There was a clear focal point. || Images were layered on top of each other creating for a crowded background. Focal point was not visible for most pictures. || There was a clear focal point for pictures. Images were appealing there was no negative space. || Pictures were visually appealing. Videos were audible. There was no white space. ||
 * **<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Appropriateness and Intended Audience ** || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">This tour was very educational. Definitions were given for certain words as well as background and information about pictures. Information was relevant to topic. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Tour was educational and explains and gives facts about the topic. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">May have been relevant for topic of campus life. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Tour was relevant to topic. Tour was educational. ||
 * **<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Citations and Credit Statements ** || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Citations and credit were given for images. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">No evidence of citations and credit were given for images. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Citations and credit statements were not used. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Citations and credit statements were used when viewing pictures. ||
 * **<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Visual Media Types ** || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Used pictures and drawings to represent visual information || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Videos, audio and images were used. Video transcripts are also given during the video. Image gallery and timeline were also accessible. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Only used images || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Video, audio, and images were used. ||
 * **<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Textual Information ** || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Text was east to read. Text fonts varied per page. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Text was not easy to read on homepage. Links covered the heading and bottom part of the body on most pages. Fonts/text on other pages was readable. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">No textual information was used to enhance images. || <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Font size varied for heading and body. Text was easy to read. ||

<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">After review the articles I found that most of them did not relate to visually literacy. Most articles gave a description of different pictures and images used and what they were used for. Upon my reading I expected to get a full understanding of visual literacy. During the virtual tour I found all but one of them to be very engaging and informative. I was able to navigate each virtual tour with ease. I learned to look past my own personal standards when reviewing and to focus on specific topics. I also learned that not all virtual tours are the same. Some tours may rely solely on pictures and some use a variety of visual media and written information. <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;"> <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;"> <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">ACRL Visual Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education (2011) Retrieved June 16, 2013 from []
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Conclusion **
 * <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">References: **

<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (2013) Retrieved June 15, 2013 from [] <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;"> <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Britsch, S. (2012).Image as language: Teacher-created photographs and visual literacy for <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;"> English language learning, //<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Australasian Journal of Early Childhood ////<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">volume 37number 2. // <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Griffin, M. (2008). Visual competence and media literacy: can one exist without the other? //International Visual Sociology Association// //<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Visual Studies, Vol. 23, No. 2 //<span style="font-family: "AdvP705F","sans-serif"; font-size: 14px;">, <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">DOI: 10.1080/14725860802276255. <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;"> <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Newfield, D. (2011). From visual literacy to critical visual literacy: An analysis of educational materials. //Vol. 10, No. 1. Retrieved from// [] <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;"> <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Roswell, J., McLean, C., & Hamilton, M., (2012). Visual Literacy as a Classroom Approach, //Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 55(5),// doi:10.1002/JAAL.00053 <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;"> <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Rybarczyk, B. (2011). Visual Literacy in Biology: A Comparison of Visual Representations in Textbooks and Journal Articles, //Journal of College Science Teaching, 41(1).// <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;"> <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">Smithsonian Institute (2013) Retrieved June 15, 2013 from [] <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;"> <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (2013) Retrieved June 15, 2013 from [|http://somewereneighbors.ushmm.org/#/exhibitions/neighbors] <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;"> <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.33px;">White House Tour: Welcome to the White House (2013) Retrieved June 15, 2013 from []