Has this ever happened to you?
You've made a detailed anchor chart full of critical information with your Middle School students, asked some killer questions, and received spot-on answers. Then, the next day, no one knows what you're talking about from yesterday!
How is this possible?!
Dr. Kouyoumdjian says that research has proven that pictures increase comprehension and retention of information because our brains are primarily image processors as opposed to word processors.
Ah ha! So all those words on the chart and all that talking were not playing to our brain's strengths! In fact, when I think about it, I know I spent many an hour studying vocabulary words in high school and college, but I would be hard pressed to remember them as well as the day I received my driver's license!
Ah ha! So all those words on the chart and all that talking were not playing to our brain's strengths! In fact, when I think about it, I know I spent many an hour studying vocabulary words in high school and college, but I would be hard pressed to remember them as well as the day I received my driver's license!
In fact, in one study that Dr. Kouyoumdjian cited, students were asked to memorize a list of three words. Those subjects that associated the words with visuals remembered more words that the subjects who just tried to repeat the words over and over.
This has fantastic implications for our students! As teachers, we have known that pictures can de-mystify concepts, but did you realize how much more retention visuals can create?
This has fantastic implications for our students! As teachers, we have known that pictures can de-mystify concepts, but did you realize how much more retention visuals can create?
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As I was thinking about how I could harness the power of visuals in learning, Pixanotes was born!
In paper form, students can cut out the picture flaps and place them on the left to match the content for a more interactive notebook experience. Later, students can write signal questions under the flaps for a more full Cornell
Or students can work with the Pixanotes that have pre-printed pictures since Pixanotes are fully differentiated too! They come in four formats including:
★ Pre-printed Pictures and no blanks (highest level of structure)
★No pre-printed pictures and no blanks (moderate level of structure)
★ Pre-printed pictures with blanks (moderate level of structure)
★ No pre-printed pictures with blanks (lowest level of structure)
Each format has the same information so you could have 4 versions of Pixanotes out in your class at the same time. This is perfect for students who have learning challenges or who have limited English proficiency.
Any way you go, you'll find that students experience more success with Pixanotes because there are more cues for them to use to retain content!
Get a free sample of the Pixanotes title referenced here AND SEE how to use them by clicking here!
There's also a digital version that can be accessed on any device that can connect to the internet! There are movable text boxes and pictures for students to interact with the content.
Thanks for stopping by!