Importance of using Images for Classroom Instruction

During my first year of teaching, I found myself using the textbook and having students look at a particular picture. Those images brought a bit of discussion into the class that otherwise might have been pretty dull. The summer between my first and second year, I began scanning images from the book into my computer and printed the full-size image on transparency paper. That method led to finding online images that raised the discussion among my students. Eventually, I would find images that were provocative yet in proper taste for a classroom setting and the image set the stage for a powerful lesson. Here are some of the methods I use in showing images to my students.

1. Make sure the image is legitimate for a particular lesson. 

As teachers, we need to maintain legitimacy for our work. If we expect students to have legitimate sourcing for their work, we need to show the example first.

2. Know that your students can handle particular images. 

Here’s an example of a provocative image, that I’ll use early on with my 10th grade global history students as a Do Now for my French Revolution – Causes lesson: 

Most of us know that some of our students are going to see this and think some very off-topic and normally inappropriate remarks. If your students don’t do so, then good for you. My suggestion, you’ve got these kids motivated into the lesson – what about this image forced the reactions from those students? Is it three people astride a single person? Is it that the person on the bottom is virtually naked, wearing only a blindfold and chains? I’m sure we all have someone who will make a sort of S&M remark – when that occurs, congratulations to you, you’ve roped someone onto the lesson in a big way, using only an image. Just to reinforce these points, have the students write down their observations and reactions. As a teacher, I make the point to write their answers on a board or chart paper – it does validate their answers to get these set for public viewing.

3. Using images to reinforce notes.

In the thirteen years I’ve taught at the high school level, I have utilized technology in ways that I’m sure some of my predecessors would only have imagined. To have a Power Point presentation projected on a wide screen has saved me precious minutes in showing an image to help me, and my students, stay organized and focused on the lessons. However, I have learned that once again, a picture is worth a million words. Here is an example of such a moment:

Causes for Napoleon's downfall

• multiple rebellions by those in French-occupied territories 
• "Reverse Nationalism" 
• Napoleon attempted to invade Russia in late 1812 
• No available supplies for troops, harsh Russian winter — 10K out of 400K French troops survived. 

Sure, most students will write this down – but will this ‘stick’? Let’s try this Power Point Slide:

Here the image will create much needed discussion – ‘that’s Russia in late summer? They’re going to freeze their…socks off!’ The students will react to the visuals here and the notes plus this image or a comparable one will turn the lesson into a productive one for all.

Of course, images can only convey so much. The image is only part of your lesson, I’d suggest supplementing the image with a reading from either a primary or a secondary source. If anyone has other experiences with images, please let us know. It’s this kind of dialogue that really makes our teaching more effective with our students.