The last lesson with DD2 was so
successful, I decided to completely replicate it for this lesson. I used the
same theme (how we communicate with each other), with the difference of how we
communicate using pictures.
Lesson 2: Communicating using icons
Objectives:
· How icons (signs) can convey messages
1. Select lesson 1E Representing Information Using
Pictograms from http://www.learn-ict.org.uk/sow2006/ks1_menu.asp
2. Type what the sign means into the box underneath the
picture.
3. Identify conventions in signage, e.g. red borders means
something you’re not supposed to do.
4. Examine the icons used in the computer, and how they
describe the functionality of the application in a single image. Which ones are
good, and which ones are not?
5. Go for a walk outside and take pictures of interesting
signs. Discuss how they inform the service of the shop. Which ones are good,
which ones are not?
6. Look at the icons in my iPhone menu screens. Which app
functionality can she deduce?
7. From all of the signs and icons seen, discuss what
makes a good sign.
By the end of the lesson DD2
was able to describe why signs were important (to convey key information
quickly and unambiguously), and evaluate what made a good sign (no reliance on
words, unambiguous symbols). We even looked at Apple’s (now historical) infatuation with
skeumorphism, trying to decide whether it made the meaning more or less obvious.
She also understood that a
strong icon needn’t necessarily describe what the app/shop does, but could just be a mental short-cut – as illustrated by the Facebook app icon and the Barclays bank sign
(which these days is completely devoid of text).
Three weeks later, in the car
on the way to Saturday morning’s activity, a propos nothing much, DD2 chirped
up with an opinion on a road sign. She explained why she thought it was an
effective sign (it was because it had a red circle around it meaning pay attention). That moment brought home to me the value DD2 is getting from
these lessons, and made me feel vindicated. Clever DD2!
I loved this article although I was looking at it from a child learning standpoint rather than an ICT one. To have a child relay back the learning point at a different time is surely the holy grail of all learning establishments!
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the main influence on DD2 was - the quality of the lesson, or the fact it was one-on-one Daddy time? Probably a combination of both, which is the child's equivalent of fairy dust!
Children learn best from people they love deeply, who listen to them regularly on a one-to-one basis, and enjoy imparting their knowledge.
Clever Avi. A great digital media technologist, and brilliant Dad. Going to try the above on DS3 and report back. Thanks.