I use Spark a lot. However, I have used Page primarily for Learning Journals, and I was intrigued by the idea of using it for visual essays and reports. In my online classes, the major exams are all essays, but students have the questions for the exams from the beginning of the class. I would like to get them to be more creative in how they answer those questions, since I believe creativity improves learning.

Week 01

I didn't want to use the given materials, so I did a report on one of my areas of interest, visual learning. I used the basic structure of an informal report - intro, discussion, conclusion - but tried to make my point visually than rather than with words. I think that is what distinguishes a written report from a visual report. In a written report, words convey the message which is supported by the images, but in a visual report, the words should support or provide transitions between the pictures.

To...well, not write, necessarily, but create...this report, I thought about the message I wanted to convey first, then found or made the images I needed, and finally wrote the text to move from image to image. Overall, I'm pleased with the result, although I find I need to restrain myself from adding too much!

Week 02

In my online courses, the midterm and final exams are all essay questions, and students get the questions at the beginning of the course. I expect a fairly thorough answer because of that.

I have toyed with the idea of trying to get them to do visual essays, because I think the process of creating a visual essay, rather than a traditional written one would cause them to be moree thoughtful in their responses. Anything novel - like creating a visual essay - is more memorable, and if it's more memorable, then they will learn more.

To create this essay, I took an answer from a student last semester, added images, and then stripped the text down to the minimum. I think the visuals with the text get the message across better than just words.

Final Reflection

I decided to write a blog post about visual essays for my final reflection.