Visual thinking is one of the ways that you can boost the learning experience in online classes. We all know how an online class, if done alone can be less motivating and enjoyable for learners. This is the reason why you need to make online courses more engaging and interactive to encourage participants throughout the learning process. You want to be able to keep learners glued to what is being discussed to increase the retention rate.
This is where visual thinking can help you. This is a type of learning that encourages learners to think through visual stimulation. It is when concepts are processed through visual elements and words are conveyed through pictures.
There are 3 ways that this method of learning can improve the experience of the learners in online classes.
It can simplify the most complex of concepts.
The saying that “a picture paints a thousand words” is true and educators have proven this time and again. When you use visual elements in your online course you can quickly explain concept far better than having them read it. Just think about it. Telling a story is usually easier if you show pictures rather than plain text. Why make the learners spend a longer time reading if they can get the idea by just looking at a photo? The online classes will be more effective if you show images that 
the learners can relate to. They can easily understand what it is all about just by looking at the various elements in the photos. For instance, the photo shows a pair of hands working on a car. If you show this to a regular driver, their mind will process that this is someone fixing a car. If you show the same photo to a mechanic, they can even tell you what the hands are specifically working on – just by looking at a photo that they can relate to. That is how powerful a photo is if you can choose the right one to use.
It can encourage the learners to pick out key concepts and organize them.
Visual thinking is also one way to develop some organization skills for learners. Instead of processing loads of text, they get to pick out key concepts from the photos being presented. Information overload is lessened and the chances of the acquired knowledge or skill being implemented is increased. This is a great way to practice the ability to filter information – a skill that learners can use in other aspects of their lives. By making them think, engagement is given a boost.
It can increase retention.
Visual tools are more effective when it comes to improving the retention of the lesson. An article published in PsychologyToday.com explained that our brain is an image processor more than a word processor. Our sensory cortex is more devoted to vision. This makes us more susceptible to remember what we see in images rather than text. When there is retention, you can expect that they can implement the skills and knowledge learned in their daily tasks.
Visual thinking is not that difficult to implement in online classes. In fact, there are various ways that you can use it to strengthen your elearning goals. Find one way to implement it and watch learners have a better learning experience in the online courses they are working on.
Images courtesy of ponsulak and stockimages for FreeDigitalPhoto.net