Visual
This is the language related to what you see - the pictures of icons, symbols, structures or tasks.
Icons are the primary language of digital devices. Graphical User Interfaces (known as GUIs) are the norm. Many icons are widely recognized and, once learned, are easily transferable across multiple devices. For example, Zoom and Chrome’s icons are distinctive, but are similar across different digital devices. This is the same with symbols in toolbars - they are distinctive, but similar across different programs/applications.
Here are some examples of visual language:
(This picture communicates access to the Zoom platform)
(This picture communicates access to the Google Chrome Browser)
Common Navigation Symbols
(Used with permission from Literacy for Life Foundation's Tech Talk Student Manual)
Commonly Used Icons
(Used with permission from Literacy for Life Foundation's Tech Talk Student Manual)
See it in Action!
Practice:
Try out this game for yourself or with a learner to see how well you know some digital icons and words! Click here for a practice activity handout.
Watch:
Here is a video of Monica Leong (Digital Divide Tool) explaining how to build learner's confidence in using visual language - watching for similarities in the icons across different software and devices.
https://www.canva.com/design/DAGsxzszejI/YuNQHCfcmDjvbihQ_Zhk_A/watch?utm_content=DAGsxzszejI&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hfac17c74c6