News & Event

The Ministry of Education, represented by the Directorate-General of Curriculum Development, organized a workshop titled “Mirrors and Windows” in cooperation with National Geographic. The workshop aims to identify new ways to read pictures and illustrations, the importance of reading pictures and drawings, their impact on students, linking the picture to reality, the feelings it carries, and how to ask questions about the picture, all in order for the participants to become acquainted with the National Geographic Learning approach to selecting high-impact images which inspire students and motivate teachers to develop future-ready students to lead choice-filled lives.

The workshop began with an activity on thinking with pictures and the use of visual memory. The workshop discussed the development of the educational content and visual literacy, and when the image is considered strong, influential, and celebrated. The characteristics of the image suitable for publication were also discussed which consisted of three elements: inspiration, connection, and reality. At the end of the workshop, a practical application was conducted on the characteristics of the appropriate image with the workshop participants. The application focused on the importance of generating innovation in the image, deviating from the ordinary to create inspiration for the recipient.

Jonathan Coxall, presenter of the workshop, said: “The aim of this workshop is to make sure that the people we work with understand the values, the importance we give to photography as well as the context, and the text of the book because we all know that stereotype images are very important nowadays especially because of social media, and the importance that both students and adults attach to the image, so there are lots of principles that need to be followed when choosing the stereotype image in our books and sharing it with people, so that people get the right concept. It is also about visual literacy and making sure that we are all on knowledgeable in visual literacy.” Erik Gundersen said: “The concept of this workshop is to present what we consider National Geographic as a special resource, which can bring the world into the classroom through National Geographic's award-winning natural photography, which in turn, helps students and teachers to see the advantages of the usual and unusual photography methods in order to encourage critical thinking, effective class discussions and enrich the educational learning process.”