VISUAL SYMBOLS

BY: JONALYN SORIANO

JOYCE V. PAGGAO
VISUAL SYMBOLS
VISUAL SYMBOLS WILL BE MADE MEANINGFUL
IF WE CAN USE THEM AS SUMMARIES OF OUR
OWN DIRECT EXPERIENCES OR OUR OWN
RICH INDIRECT EXPERIENCES….
VISUAL
SYMBOLS
are representations of direct
reality, which comes in the
form of signs and symbols.
INTRODUCTION

From an experience of a real world experience

we proceed to a word of symbols.
Visual symbols include cartoons, posters,
drawings and sketches, strip drawing
or comic strip, diagrams, charts,
graphs, maps.
Rules of Thumbs in Using Visuals
1. Visuals must be directly relevant to the audio
content.
2. Redundancy between visuals and audio
must be avoided. If words are displayed,
viewers must be given time to read it.
3. Visual displays should be big enough to be
seen by the farthest pupil.
4. Visual displays must be attractive.
5. Visual displays must be aesthetically
presented to maintain good taste.
KINDS OF VISUAL SYMBOLS
1. Cartoons
 Another useful visual symbol that can bring
novelty to our teaching is the cartoon. A first rate
cartoon tells its story tells a story metaphorically.
The perfect cartoon needs no caption. The less
the artist depends on words, the more effective
the symbolism. The symbolism conveys the
messages.
Cartoons- tell stories metaphorically through
pictures, which need no caption. Symbolism
conveys message, less words more symbolism the
better. The cartoon presents a certain issue or
concern which could be either for or against it.
 It is a pictorial representation or caricature of a
person, idea, situation or issue that is designed to
influence public opinion.
 Therefore cartoons must be presented in a
challenging manner. For better understanding
they should be drawn around a single idea.
Cartoons could be used for
motivation, for follow-up
activity and for evaluation
purposes.
SUGGESTIONS FOR THE USE OF CARTOONS
 Appropriateness to the experience level- the age and the
experience or maturity of the target learners must be taken into
consideration
 Simplicity- contains only the essential features. The cartoon must not
contain so many details.
 Brevity of captions if ever but they may not be given any. Short and
direct captions are used when necessary.
 Use of clear symbols. Use symbols that are conventional, like; the
dove to mean peace; the owl to mean wisdom or education; the
coffin to mean death; the turtle to mean slow or sluggishness and
others
 Adequateness of size. The cartoon should be big enough to be
seen and appreciated.
Sources of cartoons:
You can easily collect cartoons for instruction. They
often appear in newspapers and magazines. In class,
you can give it to individual students for individual
study or project it by an opaque projector
Where to use cartoons in instruction?
You can also use this as a springboard for a lesson
board for a lesson or concluding activity. It depends on
your purpose .
2. POSTER
 is a combination of bold designs
and color primarily intended to
catch attention on a significant
fact, idea or message. Simply
stated, a poster is a picture with
appropriate caption.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD POSTER
1. It must be bold and simple but dramatizes
features.
2. It must be appropriate to the grade level and
to the subject and purpose and purposes.
3. It must have only limited text, few words are
generally used and key words are made to
standout by means of type size or position.
4. It must be attractive, pleasing to the eyes.
5. Design and color must be given
consideration.
6.It must have the elements of dynamism and
shock.
Composition, colors and
technique are principal
elements in effective poster
preparation. It requires a
center of interest. Color
provides meaning and
expression as well as beauty.
3. Drawing and sketches

 A drawing may not be the real thing but better

to have a concrete visual aid than nothing. To
avoid confusion, it is good that our drawing
correctly represents the real thing.
 One essential skill that the teacher should
posses is drawing.
 these are crude and simple lines, which
are effective in showing what needs to
be shown with sufficient clarity, to make
the meaning vivid to the learners or
students.
 They are drawings with no illusion of
depth but a smart teacher can use them
in a very effective way in explaining and
showing ideas and concepts.
SKETCHING
4. Diagrams
are simplified drawings designed to show
interrelationship primarily by means of lines
symbols. They are used to explain rather than
represent. It is a drawing that shows
arrangement and relationships, as parts to a
whole, relative values, origins and
developments, chronological flow, fluctuations
and distributions.
The diagram is used to condense visual
summaries of facts; the ideas rely heavily
on symbolic means. However t must be
remembered that it is more effective if it
has a strong foundation because it works
better for summarizing rather than
introducing a lesson. It can be used singly
but it is better if it is used simultaneously
with other materials.
5. Charts
are graphic or pictorial representations of a
large mass of information or show
progression thru time and space of people
or events, ideas and objects.
It is also a diagrammatic representation of
relationships among individuals within an
organization.
KINDS OF CHARTS
1.Time Chart- is a tabular time chart that presents data in ordinal
sequence.
2. Tree Or Stream Chart- depicts development, growth and change
by beginning with a single course (the trunk) which spread out
into many branches; or by beginning with the many tributaries
which then converge into a single channel.
3. Flow Chart- is a visual way of charting or showing a process
from beginning to end. It is a means of analyzing a process.
4.Organizational chart- shows how one part of the organization
relates to other parts of the organization.
5. Comparison or Contrast Chart- used to
show similarities and differences between
two things.
6. Pareto chart- is a type of bar chart,
prioritized in descending order of magnitude
or importance from left to right. It shows at a
glance which factors are occurring most.
EXAMPLE OF TIME CHART:
EXAMPLE OF TREE OR STREAM CHART:
EXAMPLE OF FLOW CHART:
EXAMPLE OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHART:
EXAMPLE OF CONTRAST CHART
EXAMPLE OF PARETO CHART
6. STRIP DRAWINGS OR COMIC STRIP
Strip drawings
 are recommended for their story
value in adaptation of the classics.
They are effective in instruction not
only because they are simple, clear
and easy to read but because they
deal with materials that has been
made personal.
Comics
 is a form of cartooning in which the same cast of
characters form a story in sequence of closely
related drawings, design to entertain the readers.
They are usually enjoyed by elementary pupils as
well as a secondary students because of their
simplicity, attractiveness, color and relevant plot.
The use of super heroes of fantasy themes add
interest to the learners. Thus the use of the comic
strip in facilitating instruction must be used to the
maximum.
EXAMPLE:
Where to use drawing as an instruction?
These can serve as a motivation and starter of your
lesson. It can also be given as an activity for students
to express insights gained at the conclusion of a
lesson.
Sources of drawing.
You can obtain strip drawings from newspapers,
magazines and books
VALUES DERIVED FROM THE STRIP DRAWINGS

1. Increase interest in the subject.

2. Individualizes and personalizes
instruction for certain types of pupils.
3. Serves as a valuable practice in
reading.
4. Widens reading interest.
REASONS FOR USING COMICS STRIP

1. It is easy to read so it encourages reading.

2. It builds vocabulary.
3. It satisfies the collectors’ interest in acquiring copies.
4. It provides excitement.
5. It is inexpensive.
6. It satisfies the children’s idea of art.
7. Maps
are usually shown on flat surface and are
used to represent the surface of the earth or
some parts of it, showing the relative size and
position according to scale or projection and
position represented.
KINDS OF MAP

Physical Map
-also called relief maps, they are the
best because of their three dimensional
representation; which includes
geographical outline of land and water.
EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL MAP
Relief Map
- has three dimensional representations
and show contours the physical data of
the earth or part of the earth
EXAMPLE OF RELIEF MAP
Commercial or Economic Map
-also called product or industrial map
since they show land areas in relation to
the economy.
EXAMPLE OF ECONOMIC MAP
Regions of the United States
Geographers divide the United States into a number
of regions that share common features. These regions
are defined by similar natural features, such as terrain
and climate, or by cultural factors, including shared
economic or historical influences.
Political Map
-gives detailed information about
country, provinces, cities and towns,
roads and highways. Oceans, rivers and
lakes are the main features of most
political maps.
EXAMPLE OF POLITICAL MAP
8. Graphs
present quantitative data for easier
analysis and interpretation. It shows
comparative relationship of data involved
in size, trends and growth. Graphs are best
used in developing and in summarizing a
unit.
 KINDS OF GRAPHS

1.Line graph- the most accurate of all graphs

used in plotting trends of relationships
between two series of data. It is used when
there is considerable number of data to be
plotted and if these data are continuous.
EXAMPLE OF LINE GRAPH
2. Bar graphs- simplest of all graphs to
read. They are represented either by
vertical or horizontal bars. The length of
the bars represent an amount or
percentage data. It is best when numbers
of values to be compared is small.
EXAMPLE OF BAR GRAPHS
3. Pie graph- the sections of which
are used to represent components
parts of a whole. They always present
total amounts, their parts or
segments are calculated or
fractional parts of a whole.
EXAMPLE OF PIE GRAPH

food
shelter
water
4. Pictorial graph- it makes use of
related pictures in showing
quantitative data. Pictures gives
realism and interest so it is widely
used specially in the elementary
grades.
EXAMPLE OF PICTORIAL GRAPH
 SUMMING UP

Like a picture, a graph and all other visual symbols, are

worth a thousand words. The proper use of the visual
symbols will contribute to the optimum learning.
 Visual symbol come in many forms. For these visual
symbols to be at your finger tips, you ought to be skilled
in making them.
 The collection, preparation and use of these various
visual symbols depend on the great extent on your own
resourcefulness and creativity. If you used them
skillfully, your classroom may turn into a beehive of busy
students.
You may not realize it. But with visual symbols alone,
you have an array of teaching materials to choose
from. If you decide and commit yourself to using one
visual symbol for every lesson, you will keep your
teaching crispy and fresh. You must learn how to
draw, sketch make diagrams, graphs and charts. The
computer can now do the graphs, the charts and
some diagrams.
THANK YOU!!!!