Visual learning refers to an instructional approach that emphasizes the use of visual elements such as images, diagrams, charts, graphs, and videos to support learners’ understanding and retention of information. This approach is based on the idea that many learners process information more effectively when concepts are presented visually, allowing them to organize ideas, recognize patterns, and make meaning more efficiently than through text-only instruction (Mercadal, 2021).

For twenty-two years of teaching in a public school, my PowerPoint presentations in Science discussions have focused largely on the use of pictures. Based on my observations, visuals easily capture my students’ attention, especially when explaining complex scientific concepts. Pictures allow me to explain ideas more clearly and help students form analogies or imagine real-life scenarios related to a given environment.

Using large and readable text also plays a significant role in emphasizing key concepts. I intentionally use different colors for important terms to help describe processes more effectively. The stages of various processes become easier to discuss and understand when images are used, as these visuals provide additional details that support the concepts being taught.

Figures become more comprehensible when I include arrows alongside them. Upward and downward arrows help emphasize increasing or decreasing trends. Charts help students recognize the relationships between variables, while graphs are especially useful in analyzing how these variables are connected. Through these visual representations, learners can better understand comparisons and directional changes.

Videos are also a highly effective tool in presenting lessons. Before showing a video, I provide guide questions to focus the students’ attention. A five- to ten-minute video helps deepen their understanding of the topic, and immediately after viewing, students answer the guide questions. Overall, these visual-based strategies have significantly improved my students’ engagement and performance.

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