Photos and Graphics

There are free photos, graphics, and graphic design tools available to you online. It’s important to either use copyright free photos or follow Fair Use Guidelines. Images are great for both students and faculty to use in presentations, online courses, and more. Macie Hall from John Hopkins University says, “Instructors have reported that their use of images in the classroom has led to increased student interactivity and discussion. Teaching with images can also help develop students’ visual literacy skills, which contributes to their overall critical thinking skills and lifelong learning.”

Potential Uses

Online course design
Presentations
Syllabi
Visual Biographies
Photo Essays
Visual Storytelling
Photo Journalism
Vocabulary Building (Language course)

Source

Pros

Shift Learning lists the following benefits in "The Power of Visuals in E-learning"

Stick in long term memory
Transmit messages faster
Improve comprehension
Trigger emotions
Motivate learners

Cons

Shift Learning also says visuals "used incorrectly can deter learning."

Tools

Pixlr

Pixlr is a very similar to Photshop, except it's free! If you are unfamiliar with Photoshop, it may be a bit of a learning curve to use Pixlr, but it's a great tool for anyone looking to dive into graphic design.

Tutorial

Canva

Canva is a free design tool with no previous design experience needed. You can work with many of Canva's templates to create posters, presentations, infographics, flyers, etc. If you do not have time to do a deep dive into graphic design, Canva is a great option for you!

Tutorial

Blended & Online Learning Design Fellows