“When Words Become Unclear, I Shall Focus With Photographs.” – Ansel Adams

Everyone has heard of the quote “A picture is worth a thousand words” but I think photographer Ansel Adams gets a bit closer to the real meaning of this oft-used saying. His full quote goes as follows: “When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” If you focus closely on the photo above, a picture I took last week on Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls, you might just see that words and photos can work together to tell a story. Or, in this case, words AS photos. I have to thank the inventive Wordfoto App for helping me render this week’s post image.

This past week I was fortunate to attend the Educational Computing Organization of Ontario (ECOO) Conference in Niagara Falls. It is the first time that I have attended this conference as an active participant rather than as a publishing representative. I have to say I enjoyed my day at #ECOO13 immensely!  I enjoyed the morning keynote by AmberMac, I attended sessions throughout the day and participated in the evening photo walk. Without looking for it, a common thread wove its way through my day at ECOO: images are powerful story-tellers! I was amazed by a statistic that social media specialist AmberMac shared in her morning keynote: there is a 50% increase in how much people interact with your content if an image is attached! That is, as they say, “statistically significant” evidence of the power of images to engage. But why is this so important in education today?

Ask any educator and they will tell you that our schools are made up of students with a wide range of learning styles. Not all students learn best through reading (gasp! says the book lover!). In fact, many learn best through “reading” and creating through visuals, a skill called visual literacy. The Oxford Dictionary defines visual literacy as “the ability to read, understand, interpret, critically evaluate, use, and produce messages in visual forms.”  Teachers today are faced with not only supporting student success but also engaging students in the learning process, with a focus on visual literacy steadily coming to the forefront. Closely linked to visual literacy is the use of technology to harness the consumption AND creation of visual media to enhance learning. Our handy gadgets, from tablets to mobile phones, give us the power to create and share images instantly, but the task of today’s educator is to help students use these readily made images to tell stories that can produce a positive impact on the world around them. As so many ECOO attendees shared, it is no longer about the “apps” and the tech; it is about harnessing the power of technology to make a difference. Have you ever been moved by an image? Our emotions are a powerful motivator and photography is one of the best tools in our toolbox for striking a chord that just may become a call to action.

If you are interested in seeing what a number of professional photographers, our early visual learners, are doing to impact change, both great and small, please check out the following links I found just over the past few days. They may move you beyond words!

Photographer Takes Beautiful Portraits of Shelter Dogs to Find Them Homes

Humans of New York Blog-Turned-Book Will Seize Your Heart

Daily Life: Peru by Rodgrigo Abd

If you would like to learn more about the impact of the ECOO 13 Conference I would urge you to check out the following thoughtful reflections by attendees. I feel very fortunate to have been amongst this group of connected, compassionate, PASSIONATE Ontario educators, if only for one day!

My Favourite #ECOO13 Moment – Andrew Campbell

ECOO 13: What a Rush – Colleen Rose

Lets Stop Talking Tools – Aviva Dunsiger

ECOO 13: Reflecting on Learning – David Fife

My Favourite Take Home From ECOO 13 – Brian Smith

Just in case you are curious how our photo walk went, you must check out our snaps! This is evidence of learning out loud.

And lastly, for those who attended ECOO 13 and may read this post, here is a list of tried-and-true resources I have used as a photo blogger and image creator/sharer the past few years. Even though it is not about the tools, some of these resources may help those just starting their journey in digital story-telling. At least, that was my intent. That, and giving something back for the chance to spend some time with you last week!