DVL Modules

IL1-Introduction to Digital Visual Literacy

This module asks "what is DVL?" It motivates the topic by exploring the profound impact of computer imagery in our lives and the resulting need for Digital Visual Literacy skills. Students will also learn how DVL integrates knowledge from many different fields and how it is different from other literacies (such as IT literacy). Finally, the module introduces DVL categories and the modules funded by the National Science Foundation grant.

IL2-Practical Visual Copyright Skills

When students enter the IT workplace, they routinely need to incorporate images into presentations, web sites, and other documents. Images are easy to find on the Web and from other sources, but cannot be used indiscriminately. Just as students must learn to research and reference textual sources, they must also properly source, reference, and, if necessary, license images that they plan to use in documents to be distributed via print or online. In addition, students may well be creating their own original digital visual materials and need to understand how their work is protected from misuse by others.

This module supports the DVL areas of Commerce and Cultural Context. Students learn how copyright law strives to balance the monetary value of visual materials with the need to share and communicate ideas visually. The module also emphasizes the development of practical skills for resolving common workplace challenges such as finding and assessing the copyright status of images, determining fair use, and licensing one’s own images.

IL3-Visual Rhetoric for Blogs

The persuasive essay is a fundamental part of textual literacy. Today’s “essays” must often include visual elements which generally originate from digital environments but may include scanned non-digital materials. This module addresses the need to be as persuasive with digital images as with text and to use the two together to maximize the power of one’s argument. The focus is on persuasive “writing” in a digital, networked, temporarily responsive (if not actually real- time) context by creating Blogs on issues of personal interest. Additional “real-time” aspects include using cell phone cameras to upload images and comment on events as they occur.

This module supports the DVL areas of Communications and Cultural Context. Students learn how to create a Blog and use digital images to communicate effectively. The Blogging context of this module introduces concepts in social computing, including social protocols of public and private visual communication.
You may listen to and view a camtasia recording of a 50-minute presentation on this blogging module here.

IL4-Visual Dialog in ECommerce

Web-based e-commerce depends in many ways on visual computing. Obviously, images of products are essential for customer decision-making. The professionalism of images in e-commerce sites varies, but most large corporations employ art directors, photographer, and graphic designers to create and populate their web sites. Product images have gone from small pictures replicating (although in much lower resolution) catalog images to zoom-able and often multi-view images. (And many web sites (including Amazon.com) lost money for years before building up critical mass of users and refining transaction processes.)

The role of visual computing in attracting customers has recently reached a new level with the ability to have a visual dialog with customers by allowing customer image upload. Amazon.com has been pioneering this new feature. Innovative uses of textual dialog (such as professional and user reviews of products and services, product suggestions, wish lists, recommendation lists, etc.) have helped to define online marketplaces. We believe that visual dialog will have similar profound impact on how we shop and interact online.

This module supports the Commerce area of DVL by introducing students to the concept of an “image economy” and exploring the value of images in terms of the students’ desire to purchase a product based on site- and customer-supplied visuals.

This eCommerce Digital Visual Literacy Curriculum Module is no longer available.

IL5-Graphics Literacy

The computer has revolutionized the manner in which graphic art is created. It has vastly
changed the manner in which art-copy is produced for the advertising and publishing industries. A wealth of information today is received in a digital, visual format. Much of what is learned is simply absorbed by looking at graphic images.

This module is designed to promote student awareness as to the technology and talent involved in creating computer graphics. A further intent is to demonstrate that graphics are easily obtainable and that persons other than the original creators may modify them. This of course, might raise issues of copyright infringement.

IL6-3D Graphics

This module introduces some basic technical concepts in 3D graphics using the Graphics Teaching Tool (GTT). Basic terms and 3D processes are introduced and then applied using the GTT. Students will also explore Web sites in which 3D graphics are used in the business world to show products and processes.

IL7-Visual Display of Information using Word 2003

A Word document is not just about the content of the text: it includes that way text looks (which helps to convey the content) and the use of images to enhance the communication. In this module students gain awareness of the role of design and imagery and learn that it is important to consider even in Word processing software. They then learn to choose effective visuals to complement their text and to identify and apply basic design and type guidelines.

IL8-Visual Display of Information using Power Point 2003

Presentation software is ubiquitous in today’s IT/knowledge workplaces, from corporations to the health and legal industries and beyond. Unfortunately, many presentations are not nearly as effective as they could be, in part because their creators do not fully appreciate the visual aspects of the medium. In this module students are shown the vital role of design in creating an effective PowerPoint presentation. They learn how to use Powerpoint’s graphics tools to create effective visual communication through formatting of text, and the use of diagrams, graphs, charts, and other visual sources.

This module supports the Communications area of DVL. Students learn basic design and typographic guidelines and how to apply them a typical presentation program. These introductory-level skills are essential in virtually any IT/knowledge-work field.

IL9-Influencing Decisions with Charts using Excel 2003

It is especially important for students who plan to enter the business world to recognize the need to run “what if” scenarios with charts and graphs and to present important business information in visual formats so that decision makers are able to get the “big picture” quickly, with a minimum expenditure of time and effort.

This module helps students learn how to analyze and interpret numeric data using charts and how to select the appropriate type of chart in a standard spreadsheet program, MS Excel. Students also learn how to identify misleading uses of charts.

This module supports the Communications, Commerce, and Cultural Context areas of DVL. It’s chief focus is optimal numerical information visualization. The module also explores cultural and commerce issues in its discussions of how charts can inform many types of decisions for better or worse.

IL10-Visual Display of Information in Word 2007

A Word document is not just about the content of the text: it includes the way text looks (which helps to convey the content) and the use of images to enhance the communication. In this module students gain awareness of the role of design and imagery and learn that it is important to consider even in Word processing software.

Students will learn to identify and apply basic design and type guidelines to documents created using Word 2007. They learn to use Word 2007 features including paragraph styles and document themes. They learn to use professional typographical features in Word 2007 and to avoid features which result in unprofessional visual results. They learn to choose effective visuals to complement their text while observing copyright law.

IL11-Effective Visual Display of Information using Power Point 2007

Presentation software is ubiquitous in today’s IT/knowledge workplaces, from corporations to the health and legal industries and beyond. Unfortunately, many presentations are not nearly as effective as they could be, in part because their creators do not fully appreciate the visual aspects of the medium. In this module students are shown the vital role of design in creating an effective presentation using PowerPoint 2007. They learn principles of visual design and how to use tools and features in PowerPoint 2007 to create effective visual communication.

This module supports the Communications area of DVL. Students learn basic design and typographic guidelines and how to apply them in a typical presentation program. These introductory-level skills are essential in virtually any IT/knowledge-work field.

IL12-Influencing Decisions with Charts using Excel 2007

It is especially important for students who plan to enter the business world to recognize the need to run “what if” scenarios with charts and graphs and to present important business information in visual formats so that decision makers are able to get the “big picture” quickly, with a minimum expenditure of time and effort.

This module helps students learn how to analyze and interpret numeric data using charts and how to select the appropriate type of chart in a standard spreadsheet program, MS Excel 2007. Students also learn how to identify misleading uses of charts.

This module supports the Communications, Commerce, and Cultural Context areas of DVL. Its chief focus is optimal numerical information visualization. The module also explores cultural and commerce issues in its discussions of how charts can inform many types of decisions for better or worse.