Visual learners grasp information with ease through images and illustrations. They need to see what they are learning. This can include anything from pictures, photos, drawings, charts, graphs, tables, diagrams, and videos, to seeing animals, plants, people, and objects. They would prefer to read a story rather than hear an audio book of the same story. They also love to watch videos. They will simplify complicated learning materials by drawing charts and diagrams to retain the information easily. During a lecture visual learners usually, take notes rather than just sit and listen. If taught with pictures, videos, graphs and other visual materials they pick up and retain information very easily. For them, one picture equals to a hundred words. They are good in spelling because research suggests that spelling relies heavily on visual memory. They love colors and diagrams. They often underline texts with color pencils and highlighters. Visual learners are easily distracted by disturbances and so they prefer to study alone in a quiet place.
When gathering information during a conversation or lectures they will continuously form images in their mind. They will get bored if the information cannot be visualized and so start asking questions for clarification. When they speak, they often use a lot of ‘visual words’ like, ‘ see, look, sight, bright, picture etc’ They are good observers. They can easily pick up slightest of change in gestures, body language or even appearance or spatial arrangement of things in their environment. For example, they will know changes in the appearance of a person or arrangement of furniture in a room. Since they observe more and speak less during conversation in a group they may appear to be shy Children who are visual usually do not easily express easily what goes on in their mind. It requires patience and repeated questioning preferably in a one to one setting to get to know their mind. They are not very good listeners. It is seen visual learners forget names but remember faces because names have no images, but they will remember names if they can form an image with it. For example, it’s easy for them to remember a name like ‘Rose’ rather than a name like ‘John’.
They love to be noticed and so they speak with a lot of gestures, crack jokes, and dress up well. In fact they have a good sense of fashion. Everything around them must be visually appealing. So they like cleanliness and things to be well organized When teaching a visual child it’s better to use a lot of visual inputs. For example, it may be difficult to teach 4 > 2, but they will easily understand the concept if it is shown by drawing a set of 4 and 2 balls. Failing to do so may frustrate them and eventually lose interest in the subject.
Body Language of Visual Learners
- Sit up straight and make eye contact while listening to someone speak
- Use a lot of gestures while speaking.
- Touching or pointing to the eyes and gestures made above eye level
- They can be easily distracted by sounds while speaking
- Rapid shallow chest breathing
Recommendation for teaching a visual child-
Include a lot of pictures and diagrams while teaching. For example, if you want to teach about ‘above and below’ use a picture as shown below instead of teaching them definitions.
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- Buy books with lot of pictures, for examples comic books
- Use teaching tools and toys which convey the information you want to give.
- Use highlighters and colors to mark important texts.
To teach them about animals and historical stuff visit a zoo and museum.
