As I mentioned in my first essential update, I believe that the best way to convey information, as well as to explain a concept, is to share your own experience. I would like to tell you about my own developments during the implementation of the visual teaching method in my own German lessons.

Some time ago, we were all convinced that if we choose the right "style" of teaching - visual, auditory, etc., then we will be able to build the most effective process of memorizing. In fact, today this approach is considered rather dubious. Research shows that our success doesn’t depend only on how we perceive information. It's more about our academic preferences.

As for the visual method of teaching, we still agree that it is more effective than just a reading of the text or its reproduction without images and video.

Even in this course, where the information is presented in the form of video lectures and diagrams, it’s much easier for me to learn more efficiently than when I just read scientific articles or textbooks. One of the advantages of visualizing of educational content is that the information is no longer faceless. We see the lecturer, and our brain perceives the material more willingly, because this is not a simple text that we perceive as something extremely unstructured and that doesn’t find an associative response in our brain.

The most effective way to learn in my personal opinion is to combine different forms of visual learning. It’s both plain text and videos, as well as a text organized into diagrams and tables. This approach helps to structure information, so it becomes easier to understand.

An important note - I believe that all media add-ons should be as personalized as possible. After all, exactly what is already familiar to our brain is perceived easier and does not create unnecessary stress during learning.

That is, the images or videos used in the lecture can be based on the hobbies and interests of the student. Of course, this method is more suitable for individual lessons.

Reference:

Pashler, H., Mcdaniel, M., Rohrer, D., & Bjork, R. (2008). Learning Styles: Concepts and Evidence. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 9(3)

Learning and Skills Research Centre (2004). Learning styles and pedagogy in post-16 learning: a systematic and critical review. London: Learning & Skills Research Centre

Willingham, Daniel T., Hughes, Elizabeth M., & Dobolyi, David G. (2015). The Scientific Status of Learning Styles Theories. Teaching of Psychology