Images in the Curriculum

Digital Images

In a digital,UDL curriculum, images have the potential for a far greater role than is possible in a traditional, print based learning environment. When images are digital, they are highly flexible and therefore can convey a wealth of information not obvious on the surface. Digital imagescan be altered and transformed so that they are useable and supportive of learners who would be unable to access them in printed form.

Digital images also can play an essential role in student expression. For students who think and work visually, programs like Inspiration support concept mapping and incorporation of digital images and hyperlinks. Creating digital images with a digital camera or draw tools opens doors for many learners who have difficulty with text. Even when text is required, adding the option to use images as well, or to start with images and build toward text can engage students in a task and scaffold their areas of difficulty. Of course digital images are essential when building a web site or posting student work on the web.