Specialists in communication theory and educational technology, working together, can make meaningful contributions to the knowledge needed to permit the use of media of all types to improve learning through the proper application of communication theory. (Author/STS)

It is suggested that instructional research in visual literacy focus on the study of the symbolic codes of pictorial media. (Author/STS)

Accurate interpretation of visual images involves the learning of methods for representing three-dimensional reality on a two-dimensional surface. There are many instances where a given culture exercises its iconic expression. Discussion and comparison of cultural differences is presented and illustrated. (Author/JEG)

Psycholinguistics, pathology, and developmental, cognitive, and cross-cultural social psychology are cited to support the argument that the visual literacy construct has not led to useful research and defensible practice. A reconceptualization of the inherent assumptions and implications is proposed. A 68-item reference list is provided.…

This study focused on the psychological process involved in drawing inferences from pictures. Nineteen reference tests and two tests of picture interpretation behavior were administered to a random sample of 95 children aged 10-12: the Production of Inference Tests (PIT) and the Discovery of Similarities Test (DST). (JEG)

Investigates the role of visuals in the instructional and evaluation phases of a high school biology unit on the human heart. Results indicate that the instructional strategy of implementing visualization in both the presentation and evaluation phases is a viable instructional variable. Forty-four references are listed. (Author/MER)

Argues that visual literacy should be studied through a cognitive approach, and describes principles of punctuating and structuring that can be used to develop a new standard of experimental validity. Triadic interaction theory and the role of strategies in research are discussed, as well as a new orientation to research. (BK)

Consistent learning gains are associated with the use of pictures when experiments adhere to five ground rules: (1) prose passages are presented orally; (2) the subjects are children; (3) the passages are fictional narratives; (4) the pictures overlap the story content; and (5) learning is demonstrated by factual recall. (Author)