Labrador's IRA Newsletter Project: Effective Literacy Website 3: “The Visual Literacy Project”

                                                                                                                                            

Overview

  “The Visual Literacy Project” (http://www.readingart.net/) is an online classroom portfolio of Junius Wright, a language arts teacher at Academic Magnet High School in Charleston, South Carolina.  The website exemplifies the concept behind the literacy project and its high level of impact towards academic success.  It contains student works done in his class, artist interviews, video lessons and presentations of collaborating artists, and a frame network of corresponding, supplemental websites that promote Wright’s project.  The site also has handouts for educators to use and links to several of Wright’s blog sites pertaining to visual literacy and research. Aside all his website’s features, Junius Wright made additional lesson plan contributions for the “National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).”  His active teaching approach was recognized by the NCTE and made Wright as one of the writers for its online site called “readwritethink” (http://www.readwritethink.org).  

  

Media and Literacy Integration

           Wright’s unique approach to literacy through the arts are recorded and shared in his websites for other educators to learn or get ideas from.  Integrating visual media with literacy and collaborating with local artists, Wright developed lessons that maintain high quality academia.  One prime example of his achievements entitled, “The Fusion Project,” introduces and showcases a New York modern artist’s work named Fletcher Crossman. The video also shows how students use his images and interpret the concepts behind each piece. If you would like to know more about this project, feel free to watch its introductory by clicking on the video provided.   

  

Website Review

            On the last two assignments, I have shared positive feedback about each corresponding website. Unfortunately, although the content is quite useful, I have to criticize how the information is arranged on this site, considering my years as a graphic designer.  Because of the introduction to creating a personal technology blog site and the constant internet tools explorations, I have established high expectations of websites in general, especially if they are meant as educational resources.  To me, an online educational resource should be very user-friendly, where it is organized, and easy to navigate or explore.  Wright’s website has an amateurish appeal to it, probably because of his eagerness to immediately showcase his student works and accomplishments on the internet.  Although it does have categorical tabs, the overall feel of navigation seems as if the content is scattered around different pages.  In addition, some of the assignments are a little difficult to comprehend.  There are some explanations, but majority of the time, I would have to re-read, or review the videos again just to understand his lessons completely especially the “Juggling” section of the website that acts as mental training for students. 

Final Commentary

Nonetheless, the website does offer some informative content that educators can use to implement in their classrooms.  For instance, I would utilize the concept of “The Fusion Project,” in which I invite a local artist into my classes and present five (5) artworks to my students. I would then ask my students to briefly write a caption of what they think the artwork is “saying” to them. Afterwards, I would the students design the lettering and background that matches each painting and place it right next to each piece.  Overall, this website has definitely inspired me to complete my “Weebly” website for the Fine and Practical Arts Department at John F. Kennedy High School.