I was looking at some books in a thrift store....
and I came across an old college biology book. It was smaller in size than today’s biology textbooks, and it had very few pictures or other graphics. Students today have access to so many images in biology texts. Teachers should encourage students to take a longer look at these images, for there is a wealth of information in them.
Graphics are so important for understanding biology.
Imagine a description of the cell with all of its organelles, but no picture! Graphics may be photos, diagrams, charts, graphs, photos…any type of image that contributes to interest and comprehension of the text.
Lesson materials created for students need graphics too.
Images make the lesson more inviting. It is crucial to teach students that using these images will help them gain understanding.
Standardized tests use graphics with many of questions.
Frequently, the answer to the question is in a graph or diagram…the student just needs to analyze and interpret it. Students also need practice using their own drawings to explain a concept. Tests like the AP Biology exam encourage students to use illustrations to show their understanding of a concept.
Generally speaking, if you are employed as an educator...
many graphics are free for you to use in your classroom. You must give credit to the owner of the image and generally these images cannot be used in lessons for sale. I use Canva*as a seller (and pay for it), but it has a free version for teachers to use in their classrooms. I also use Wikimedia Commons which has many free and public domain images.
(*This is not a paid endorsement.) Please note that I am not a lawyer or copyright expert, so make sure you are check if the image is copyrighted, and follow the rules for using an image.
Always check how the graphic will print...
if you are using it for handouts. Sometimes beautiful images will not be clear when copied, so you have to make adjustments or find a similar image. If you are using copies for handouts, more images mean more pages. You have to weigh the cost of your copies vs. the value of the images.
I use as many images as possible in my lessons. Below are some examples of products that are image “heavy.”
-Jane
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