What is Visual Knowledge Building?

Visual Knowledge Building is the process of digesting and creating visual information from different angles. Human mind receives seventy five percent of information from what their eyes see it is the reason why memes became popular today. Meme is an idea to spread cultural experiences virally through internet, often it is socially recognizable image with short and often sarcastic text on it.

Meme above shows how ‘selfies’ are so popular by showing screenshot from Toys Story movie where Woody and Buzz Lightyear are standing next to each other, where Buzzs’ hand is pointing to the whole world and there is some excitement on his face, in meantime Woody’s emotions  shows a great concern. Images help us to send more consistent message and it is no secret. However, it is not a point of Visual Knowledge Building.

Visual Knowledge Building teaches us that there is more than one answer in each question. This may sound quite philosophically. But let’s look on this picture :

VW decided to use famous Abbey Road where group Beatles where pictured as promotion of their Beetle car. It is quite symbolic and smart. However, talking exclusively about me car Beetle is a symbol of a bug and I hope for some it is that symbol as well. From one side it is words pronunciation play Beatles and Beetles and from the other this poster leaves some uncertainty in the message: why they used VW bug on Abbey Road. Visual Knowledge Building encourages that every answer could be correct one. 

But what is a knowledge?

There is no one common definition of Knowledge, but variously it can be defined as, “Things that are held to be true in a given context and drive us to action if there is no impediment”. In other words it can be defined as, justified true belief that increases existing capacity for effective action.  To translate all this in common words Knowledge is an understanding of an issue which leads us to resolvement of another issue.

Theory distinguish that there are three types of knowledge:

Physical – being a present in a certain environment. We need ample time to explore this world. No one can do that for us. It lays the foundation for later. A simple example of this knowledge can be ‘sunglasses’. One of the first sunglasses where made in China and it were not supposed to block sun. Chinese judges wore smoke-colored quartz lenses to hide their eye expression in court in thirteen century. Eskimos used google with little slits to prevent snow blinding.

Social – comes from outside. This knowledge must be told, taught or transmitted from the culture to the child through person-to-person, it will be learned more effectively if it is meaningful and seen as useful to the learner.

Logical-Mathematical – is developed and constructed within the mind of the learner. It consists of relationship between objects constructed by each individual. VW beetle poster.

Previously Knowledge workers distinguished three common theories: behaviorism, cognitivism and constructivism.

Behaviorism states that learning is largely unknowable and we cannot possibly understand what goes in human mind. Theory discusses that reality is external and is objective, and knowledge is gained through experiences. The theory makes three assumptions:  

1. Observable behavior is more important that understanding internal activities, 
2. Behavior should be focused on simple elements: specific provocation and responses 
3. Learning is about behavior change.

In cognitivism theory learning is viewed as a process of inputs, directed in short term memory, and transformed for long term recall. In cognitive theories, learning is viewed as symbolic mental constructs in the learner’s mind, and the learning process is the means by which these symbolic representations are committed to memory.             

Constructivism suggests that learners create knowledge as they attempt to understand their experiences and learners are not empty vessels to be filled with knowledge. Instead, learners are constantly attempting to create meaning.

Central point of these theories is that learning occurs inside of the person. These theories do not address learning that occurs outside of people. In growing era of technology every manner information that we acquire is worth of exploring. In today’s environment, action is often needed without personal learning, that is, we need to act by drawing information outside of our primary knowledge.

Naturally, theorist tried to improve and revise theories as conditions change, however, rapid increase of information have altered so significantly, that further modification is no longer sensible and entirely new approach is needed. George Siemens and Stephen Downes introduced new theory of connectivism.

Connectivism is characterized as a reflection of our society that is changing rapidly, complex, connected socially, global, and mediated by increasing advancements in technology. Theory describes that to be connected to the outside knowledge is more important than existing state of knowing. In other words idea is that pipe is more important than content within the pipe. George Siemens describes connectivism as “Amplification of learning, knowledge, and understanding through the extension of personal network”. Only through personal networks a learner can acquire the viewpoint and diversity of opinion to learn to make critical decisions. Connectivism can be defined as actionable knowledge, where an understanding of where to find knowledge may be more important than answering how or what that knowledge encompasses.

After stepping out from learning theories of behaviorism, cognitivism and constructivism into connectivism we are getting acknowledged with ability to plug into sources to meet the requirements using personal network.