What+is+Visual+Literacy?

**Definitions of Visual Literacy:**
First coined in 1969 by John Debes: “Visual Literacy refers to a group of vision-competencies a human being can develop by seeing and at the same time having and integrating other sensory experiences. The development of these competencies is fundamental to normal human learning. When developed, they enable a visually literate person to discriminate and interpret the visible actions, objects, symbols, natural or man-made, that he encounters in his environment. Through the creative use of these competencies, he is able to communicate with others. Through the appreciative use of these competencies, he is able to comprehend and enjoy the masterworks of visual communication.” Avergerinou, M. (n.d.). //What is "Visual Literacy?"//. Retrieved April 7, 2008 from http://www.ivla.org/org_what_vis_lit.htm

"the ability to evaluate, apply, or create conceptual visual representations" //Visual Literacy: An E-Learning Tutorial on Visualization for Communication, Engineering and Business//. Retrieved April 7, 2008 from http://www.visual-literacy.org/index.html

"...the ability to interpret, negotiate, and make meaning from information presented in the form of an image. Visual literacy is based on the idea that pictures can be “read” and that meaning can be communicated through a process of reading." Visual literacy. (2008, February 24). In //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Retrieved April 7, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_literacy

"Visual literacy is the ability to see, to understand, and ultimately to think, create, and communicate graphically. Generally speaking, the visually literate viewer looks at an image carefully, critically, and with an eye for the intentions of the image's creator. Those skills can be applied equally to any type of image: photographs, paintings and drawings, graphic art (including everything from political cartoons to comic books to illustrations in children's books), films, maps, and various kinds of charts and graphs. All convey information and ideas, and visual literacy allows the viewer to gather the information and ideas contained in an image, place them in context, and determine whether they are valid." Thibault, M. and Walbert, D. (n.d.). //Reading images: an introduction to visual literacy.// Retrieved April 7, 2008 from http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/vlintro0602

"Can students interpret, use, appreciate, and create images and video usinb both conventional and 21st century media in ways that advance thinking, decision-making, communication, and learning?" Lemke, C. //21st century skills for 21st century learners//. Retrieved April 9, 2008 from http://www.metiri.com/21/Metiri-NCREL21stSkills.pdf