TEACHING WITH VISUAL SYMBOLS

I. Module Overview

In this module, we will learn that an experience of real-world experience, we need to

proceed to a world of symbols. Here, we don’t see real things but symbols. Visual symbols include
drawings, cartoons, strip drawings, diagrams, formulas, charts, graphs, maps, globes.

II. Desired Learning Outcome

At the end of this module, students should be able to:

1. Give examples of visual symbols and the appropriate corresponding learning
outcomes

III. Take-off/ Motivation

Give your interpretation about the images below.

IV. Content Focus

Your experience of the words and the graphs convinces you that a graph is easier to understand than the
words of a paragraph. A graph is "worth a thousand words." A graph and any visual symbol for that matter such as
drawings, cartoons, strip drawings, diagrams, and maps are worth a thousand words. They are more clearly
understood than mere words. Let us learn more about each of them and find out where they can be used in our lessons.

A. DRAWINGS

A drawing may not be the real thing but better to have a concrete visual aid than nothing. To avoid
confusion, it is good that our drawing correctly represents the real thing.
One essential skill that a teacher ought to possess in order to be understood is drawing. It helps you a lot if
you are capable of doing simple freehand sketching. You will find out that as you lecture, you need to illustrate
on the chalkboard. So, better start learning how to draw. The only way to learn it is to do the sketching yourself
and devote some time to it. There is nothing so difficult that is not made easy when we spend at least forty hours
learning and mastering.
Here are some samples of stick drawings:

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 Source: https://pixabay.com/vectors/kids-drawing-scribble-lines-girl-
3171905/

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/714946509593235925/

B. CARTOONS

Another useful visual symbol that can bring novelty to our teaching is the cartoon. A first-rate cartoon tells
its story metaphorically. The perfect cartoon needs no caption. The less the artist depends on words, the more
effective the symbolism. The symbolism conveys the message.
Here some examples:

Sources: https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/227291112434368436/
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/250794272986703333/

Sources of Cartoons

You can easily collect cartoons for instruction. They appear often in newspapers and magazines. In class, you
can give it to individual students for individual study or project it by an opaque projector. Depending on themes for
the week or the month, you can display these cartoons on the bulletin board. One creative teacher arranged for a
"cartoon of the month and displayed and changed her display every end of the month.

Sketching Cartoons

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 Want to develop your skill at sketching for cartoons? See Figures below.

Figure 1. Simple sketches

Sources: https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/364791638573049046/
https://www.deviantart.com/devianttear/art/Male-Anatomy-Reference-and-Perspective-
Tips-322327254

C. STRIP DRAWINGS

These are commonly called comics or comic strip. Dale (1969) asserts that a more accurate term is strip
drawings. Make use of strips that are educational and entertaining at the same time. Here is an example.
Figure 2. Strip drawings

Sources: https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/430304939398972353/
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/469570698623713176/

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Where to Use Strip Drawing In Instruction
This can serve as motivation and a starter of your lesson. Il can also be given as an activity for students to
express insights gained at the conclusion of a lesson.

Sources of Strip Drawing

You can obtain strip drawings from newspapers, magazines and looks.

D. DIAGRAMS

What is a diagram? It is "any line drawing that shows arrangement and relations as of parts to the whole,
relative values, origins and development, chronological fluctuations, distribution, etc." (Dale. 1969) If you can
draw stick figures, you can easily draw the diagrams that you need as you go along. To emphasize the key points
in your diagram, make use of color whether you use the chalkboard or the OHP and transparencies. See Figure
below. The diagram below is used to introduce a chapter lesson on heredity-environment interaction. Do you get
an idea on what the chapter is about by just looking at the diagram?

Figure 3. The Interaction of Heredity and Environment

Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=diagram+on+heredity-
environment+interaction&safe=active&rlz=1C1RLNS_enPH906PH906&sxsrf=ALeKk00BCV3Co4l2C79gVbV
Yveafi62vJw:1605053670387&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjerPnumvnsAhUpBKYKHS5V
BYgQ_AUoAXoECBMQAw&biw=1366&bih=568#imgrc=M2Qysr76DeOzzM

Types of a diagram
Find out what these other diagrams are. You may need them and you teach and your about your other
teaching related tasks

• Affinity diagram- used to cluster complex apparently unrelated data into natural and meaningful groups

Figure 4. Affinity Diagram of Education system

indicators

Source:https://www.google.com/search?
q=affinity+diagram+education&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiGhofjnPnsA
hW4zIsBHeHSCv8Q2
cCegQIABAA&oq=affinity+diagram+education&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQA
zIGCAAQCBAeOgQIIxAnOgIIADoGCAAQBRAeUI3QAVig6wFghfI
BaABwAHgAgAG7AYgBzBSSAQQwLjE3mAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLX
dpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=5i6rX4b7EriZr7wP4aWr-

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 A8&bih=568&biw=1366&rlz=1C1RLNS_enPH906PH906&safe=active
#imgrc=29KlhI1rMl7AYM

• Tree diagram- used to chart out, in increasing detail, the various tasks that must be accomplished to
complete a project or achieve a specific objective.

Figure 4. A tree diagram

Source:https://www.google.com/search?
q=labeled+tree+diagram+for+education&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjblr
DynvnsAhUIDZQKHcXaCK8Q2-
cCegQIABAA&oq=labeled+tree+diagram+for+education&gs_lcp=CgN
pbWcQAzoCCAA6BAgAEB46BggAEAUQHjoGCAAQCBAeUPOwA
VjixQFgvsgBaABwAHgAgAG_AYgB9RCSAQQwLjE0mAEAoAEBq
gELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=HzGrX5uLE4ia0ATFta
P4Cg&bih=568&biw=1349&rlz=1C1RLNS_enPH906PH906&safe=acti
ve&hl=en#imgrc=bS11lozYwdBUsM

 Fishbone diagram- also called cause and effect diagram. It is a structured form of brainstorming that
graphically shows the relationship of possible causes and subcauses directly related to an identified effect
problem. It is most commonly used to analyze work-related problems.

Figure 5. Fishbone Diagram Illustrating Causes of Chronic Absenteeism. Maxwell, Reynolds, Lee,

Subasic, & Bromhead (2017) recognize school climate

Sources: https://www.google.com/search?
q=fish+bone+diagram+of+the+causes+contributing+to+poor+student+attendance+in+school+district&tbm=isch
&ved=2ahUKEwjPzauioPnsAhWcxIsBHY0cA50Q2-
cCegQIABAA&oq=fish+bone+diagram+of+the+causes+contributing+to+poor+student+attendance+in+school+
district&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoFCAAQsQM6AggAOgQIABAeOgYIABAIEB46BggAEAoQGFCaJ1jR3QFg
weABaABwAHgAgAGaAogBolqSAQYwLjcxLjSYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&
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 ei=kDKrX8_FFJyJr7wPjbmM6Ak&bih=568&biw=1349&rlz=1C1RLNS_enPH906PH906&safe=active&hl=en
#imgrc=UbROjvCPQsisfM
E. CHARTS
A chart is a diagrammatic representation of relationships among individuals within an organization. We can
have a: 1) time chart, 2) tree or stream chart, 3) flow chart, 4) organizational chart, 5) comparison and contrast
chart, 6) pareto chart and 7) run chart or trend chart.
Examples of chart

 Time chart - is a tabular time chart that presents data in ordinal sequence.
Here is an example:

Figure 6.

 Tree or stream chart- depicts development, growth and change by beginning with a single course (the

trunk) which spreads out into many branches; or by beginning with the many tributaries which then converge
into a single channel. The genealogical tree is an example.
Figure 7
Source: https://www.google.com/search?
q=tree+or+stream+chart&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiDxK2EqfnsAhWREKYKHXQ0CBgQ2cCegQIABAA&oq=tree
+or+stream+chart&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzICCAA6BAgjECc6BwgAELEDEEM6BAgAEEM6BggAEAgQHjoECAA
QGDoGCAAQChAYUMz3LVjGli5ggZsuaABwAHgAgAHQAYgBlRmSAQYwLjE5LjGYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd
2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=wTurX8PfFpGhmAX06KDAAQ&bih=568&biw=1349&rlz=1C1RLNS_enPH9
06PH906&safe=active&hl=en#imgrc=znH-_bWZaNXswM&imgdii=2KEVhWbhx3ptvM

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  Flow chart - is a visual way of charting or showing a process from beginning to end. It is a means of analyzing a
process. By outlining every step in a process, you can begin to find inefficiencies or problems. (Latta, 1994)

Figure 8. Copying Service Process Flowchart

Source:https://www.google.com/url?
sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conceptdraw.com
%2FHow-To-Guide%2Fcopying-service-process-
flowchart&psig=AOvVaw1ALHBmGkvTKpdLRdLjt
M6t&ust=1605145038862000&source=images&cd=vf
e&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCLDDk9y0-
ewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ
 Organizational chart - shows how one part of the organization relates to other parts of the organization

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 Figure 9. Organizational Chart of Gender and Development Resource Center

Source: DEBESMSCAT - Gender and Development Resource Center

 Comparison and contrast chart – used to show similarities and differences between two things (people, places,
events, ideas, etc.) Key frame questions: What things are being compared? How are they similar? How are they
different?

Figure 10. Compare and Contrast Matrix

Source:https://www.google.com/url?
sa=i&url=https%3A%2F
%2Fwww.writedesignonline.com%2Forganizers
%2Fcomparecontrast.html&psig=AOvVaw3IgRoQ0SF
-
wsZMigTNaUsK&ust=1605148155859000&source=i
mages&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCICd9Im5-
ewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

 Pareto Chart – is a type of bar chart, prioritized in descending order of magnitude or importance from left to
right. It shows at a glance which factors are occurring most.

Figure 11. Pareto Chart of Reasons for Unexcused Absences

Source:https://www.google.com/url?
sa=i&url=https%3A%2F
%2Fwww.slideshare.net%2FRihannahZei
%2Flesson-13-
final&psig=AOvVaw0DJsrS0LqZ5ChlRqpC
GyQU&ust=1605148933472000&source=ima
ges&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCIjsh5K
8-ewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

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  Gannt Chart – is an activity time chart

Figure 12. Gannt chart

Source:https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F
%2Fwww.researchgate.net%2Ffigure%2FExample-of-a-Gantt-
chart-for-semester-project-tasks-updated-through-Week-
6_fig2_239930617&psig=AOvVaw0YyEtdKeT2_GQ6Pw0zIk5
c&ust=1605149433632000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0C
A0QjhxqFwoTCPCkseu9-ewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

F. GRAPHS

There are several types of graphs. They are: 1) circle or pie graph, 2) bar graph, 3) pictorial graph,
and 4) line graph.

 Pie or circle graph- recommended for showing parts of whole

Figure 13. Pie chart

Source:https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https
%3A%2F%2Fwww.mathsisfun.com%2Fdata
%2Fpie-

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 charts.html&psig=AOvVaw2VLxDsxDZ75vZeEwT
4_E8H&ust=1605159675555000&source=images&c
d=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCLj_jvXj-
ewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

 Bar graph - used in comparing the magnitude of similar items at different ties or seeing relative sizes of the
parts of the whole.

Figure 14. Bar graph

Source:https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tes.com
%2Flessons%2FcuvPlVJIVZhktg%2Fgraphing-and-
data&psig=AOvVaw1ohH1zpFWg5yIjliCLoVLZ&ust=1605160025027000&sour
ce=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCNiXupzl-
ewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAV
 Pictorial Graph – makes use of picture symbols

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 Figure 15. Pictorial graph / representation
Source:https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F
%2Fwww.math-only-math.com%2Fexamples-of-
pictographs.html&psig=AOvVaw1sNCKbXqB8F9G2VWg1hBzT&ust=
1605160275917000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTC
PDn_JXm-ewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

 Line graph – also known as a line chart, is a type of chart used to visualize the value of something over time.
For example, a finance department may plot the change in the amount of cash the company has on hand over
time. The line graph consists of a horizontal x-axis and a vertical y-axis.
Figure 16. Line graph
Source:https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https

%3A%2F%2Fheap.io%2Fblog%2Fengineering
%2Fline-graph-
redesign&psig=AOvVaw2JtrBrm3I0LYbqQj4vb7Qn&
ust=1605161329311000&source=images&cd=vfe&ve

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 d=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCOCMjJTq-
ewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

 Graphic organizers - also known as a knowledge map, concept map, story map, cognitive organizer,
advance organizer, or concept diagram is a pedagogical tool that uses visual symbols to express knowledge
and concepts through relationships between them.

Figure 17. An example of graphic organizer

Source:https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fatpamsplaceblog.blogspot.com
%2F2012%2F12%2Fgraphic-organizers-for-math-
vocabulary.html&psig=AOvVaw3IWvi7HHVL_YwJlk5ugbUM&ust=1605161600321000&source=images&cd=vfe
&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCMiByI3r-ewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

G. MAPS

A map is a “representation of the surface of the earth or some part of it…” (Dale, 1969)

Kinds of Map

 Physical Map- combines in a single projection data like altitude, temperature, rainfall, precipitation,
vegetation and soil.

Figure 18. A physical map of the world

Source:https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F
%2Fwww.nationsonline.org%2Foneworld%2Fmap
%2Fphysical_world_map.htm&psig=AOvVaw0JHvnExg3FEurhWNn5q
V3n&ust=1605161864151000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0Qjh
xqFwoTCNinhYns-ewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

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 Relief Map – has three dimensional representations and show contours of the physical data of the earth or
part of the earth.

Figure 19. Relief map of Africa

Source:https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F
%2Fetc.usf.edu%2Fmaps%2Fpages
%2F10800%2F10877%2F10877.htm&psig=AOvVaw0OIOq4gPxyoRfMMpZC4l
bm&ust=1605162158734000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTC
Oin4Jrt-ewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAK

 Commercial or Economic Map – also called product or industrial map since they show land areas in
relation to the economy.

Figure 20. Commercial or Economic Map

Source:https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https
%3A%2F%2Fslideplayer.com%2Fslide
%2F9399744%2F&psig=AOvVaw2mn7aZ2WLIxXl9
Q-
hJPpDs&ust=1605164813720000&source=images&cd
=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCJici4r3-
ewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

 Political Map – gives detailed information about country, provinces, cities, and towns, roads, and highways.
Oceans, rivers and lakes are the main features of most political maps.

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 Figure 21. Political map of the Philippines
Source:https://www.google.com/url?
sa=i&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnationsonline.org
%2Foneworld%2Fmap%2Fphilippines-
political-
map.htm&psig=AOvVaw1TsII1ol2pFV1TCF
8fS0Vs&ust=1605165084307000&source=im
ages&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCNjfsIj
4-ewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

Map language

 Scale. It shows how much of the actual earth' surface is represented by a given measurement on a map. The
scale must be shown so that the map reader can use the distances and areas shown on the map in measuring
or figuring out the real distances and areas on the earth's surface. On some maps, scale is shown graphically.
In others the scale is expressed in words and figures. e.g. 1 inch = 15 statute miles.
 Symbols. Usually a map has a legend that explains what each symbol means. Some symbols represent
highways, railroads, mountains, lakes and plains.
 Color. The different colors of the map are part of the map language. What colors represent the bodies of
water? What about contours of the earth and railroads, highways and other cultural features? Get a physical
map and study it.
 Geographic grids. The entire system of these grid lines are called grid lines. These grid lines are called
meridians and parallels. A meridian is a north to south pole line. Parallels are lines drawn around a globe
with all points along each line with an equal distance from the pole. Longitude is the distance in degrees of
any place east or west of the prime meridian. Latitude is the distance in degrees of any place north and south
of the equator.

V. Take Action

1. Summarize this lesson by means of a diagram. See the sample below.

2. Construct a ten-item true-false test on map-reading. Provide the key to correction
3. Make a tree chart by creating your own genealogy tree. Go as many generations as you can go.
Interview your parents and grandparents.

Criteria:
Content-50%
Creativity-30%
Neatness-20%
100%
VI. Self-check

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 Pictures, slides, handouts, videos, mock-ups, model’s computer projections and
computer presentations are visuals but are they visual symbols? (10 points)

VII. Self-reflect

Collect more graphic organizers (10points)

Note: Use separate sheet of papers for your answers.

VIII. References

Corpuz, Brenda B. & Lucido Paz I. (2015). Educational Technology I. Quezon City: Lorimar
Publishing Inc.

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