Title: Role of image and visual aids in the blended learning environment designed for academic learning

Authors: Irena Pulak; Małgorzata Wieczorek-Tomaszewska

Addresses: Institute of Educational Sciences, Jesuit University of Philosophy and Education 'Ignatianum', Kopernika 26 st, 31-501 Cracow, Poland ' Department of Educational Technology and Media, Pedagogical University, Ingardena 4 st, 31-060 Cracow, Poland

Abstract: Image plays an increasingly important role in the modern educational process. The development of information and communication technologies has made it possible to easily create, modify and publish the visual and multimedia materials. The internet is becoming a learning environment in which educational content can be presented in a different form consisting of the text, hypertext, digital images, multimedia, hypermedia, etc. In this paper the authors discuss the possibility of using an image as a media content in the educational process in the context of the design space for blended learning. They present the results of research on the level of use of visual materials in academic practice and evaluation of their effectiveness by students. They point to the role of visual skills and visual knowledge as components of cultural capital of modern man, also pay attention to the learning potential inherent in the image as an independent unit of knowledge.

Keywords: image; multimedia; hypermedia; visual literacy; educational materials; blended learning; learning environment; information literacy competency standards; life-long learning; visual aids; media content; visual materials.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2014.063102

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2014 Vol.24 No.3/4, pp.314 - 328

Published online: 19 Jul 2014 *

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