Educators use new tools and approaches to enrich their teaching and engage learners more deeply in our increasingly visual and digital world. LinaEdu Erasmus+ Courses in Split recently hosted an online webinar featuring lead educator Ivan Boban, who specializes in photography, AI-driven image creation, and visual storytelling. During this hour-long session, participants explored the significance of visuals in education, learned the fundamentals of photographic composition, and discovered how artificial intelligence (AI) can help create compelling imagery for the classroom.
You can view the complete FREE Webinar on the link here.
Why Visuals Matter in Education
Visuals aren’t merely decorative elements but powerful vehicles for improved comprehension and retention. As Ivan explained, our brains process visual information more quickly and store it more effectively than text alone. Well-chosen images, infographics, and concept maps help simplify complex subjects, making them more accessible and memorable.
Moreover, visuals can capture students’ attention and cater to different learning styles. This is especially beneficial in today’s media-rich environment, where constant visual stimuli surround learners. By incorporating diverse types of visuals—photos, videos, animations, and interactive simulations—educators can appeal to a broader range of learners, keeping them engaged and motivated.
Core Principles of Photography
Before diving into AI, Ivan introduced fundamental photographic concepts. Understanding basic photography techniques can be transformative for educators looking to enhance their teaching materials. Key points included:
- Composition & The Rule of Thirds: Framing subjects off-centre creates more dynamic, visually interesting images.
- Lighting: Natural or artificial light sets the mood and influences how detail and depth are perceived. Soft, diffused lighting—often found during the “golden hour” around sunrise or sunset—can add warmth and clarity.
- Focus & Depth of Field: Controlling focus helps isolate the subject and blur distracting backgrounds, emphasizing what’s most important.
- Angles & Perspectives: Experimenting with angles—eye-level, bird’ s-eye, or low-angle views—can completely change an image’s narrative and emotional impact.
- Simplicity: Keeping images uncluttered ensures the focus remains on the subject and message you want to convey.
Introducing AI-Generated Visuals
As AI tools have evolved, creating sophisticated visuals without needing a professional photo studio has become easier and more affordable. AI offers exciting possibilities for educators, from text-to-image generators and photo enhancement tools to background removers and object recognition systems.
Examples of AI Tools and Their Benefits:
- Text-to-Image Generators: By crafting a careful prompt, you can generate realistic images that reflect specific scenarios—perfect for illustrating a historical setting, depicting scientific phenomena, or designing language learning aids.
- Enhancement & Background Removal: Tools like Canva use AI to remove backgrounds cleanly, sharpen photos, or balance colours with just a few clicks.
- Object Recognition & Tagging: Smartphones and AI software can recognize objects, faces, and settings, making it easier to organise and retrieve relevant images for lessons.
- AI-Powered Cameras: Many smartphones already use AI to optimize lighting, reduce noise, and balance colours, ensuring you capture high-quality images wherever you teach.
Crafting Effective AI Prompts
The webinar showcased how detailed prompts produce better AI-generated images. Ivan demonstrated a simple prompt, “mountain under a blue sky,” versus a more elaborate prompt: “A photorealistic image of a snow-covered mountain under a clear blue sky, captured in a cinematic style. Educators can guide AI tools to create images that closely match their vision by adding descriptive terms about composition, lighting, and atmosphere.
For example, consider using prompts that detail:
- Subject Matter: Describe the main focus (e.g., a historical building, a biological process, a geographical feature).
- Atmosphere and Setting: Is it early morning or dusk? Is the environment serene or energetic?
- Technical Details: To influence the image’s perspective and depth, specify focal lengths, camera angles, or lens types.
Applying These Techniques in the Classroom
Visual storytelling in education isn’t just about impressing students with pretty pictures—it’s about enhancing comprehension, facilitating creative thinking, and accommodating various learning preferences. With the right combination of photography principles and AI-driven image generation, educators can:
- Create custom visuals for lesson plans, slideshows, and handouts.
- Develop attention-grabbing infographics or concept maps.
- Enrich language learning by providing immersive, culturally rich imagery.
- Use images to break down language barriers, assisting students new to the language of instruction.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Courses and Opportunities
This webinar offered a glimpse into LinaEdu’s upcoming Erasmus+ course “Photography & AI Visuals in Teaching.” Hosted in Split, Croatia, the multi-day training provides hands-on experience, practical workshops, and individualized guidance from experts like Ivan Boban. Participants will learn how to seamlessly integrate photography and AI visuals into their teaching strategies, ultimately enhancing their presentation skills and students’ learning experiences.
The LinaEdu webinar underscored the transformative power of visuals in the classroom. By blending foundational photography skills with cutting-edge AI tools, educators can create more prosperous, more engaging learning materials. Interested in delving deeper? Consider joining the entire course in Split to immerse yourself in the art and science of visual storytelling in education. View the course details here.
About LinaEdu Erasmus+ Courses in Split:
LinaEdu empowers educators with innovative strategies, tools, and skills to enhance their teaching practices. By offering professional development courses integrating modern technology and creative expression, LinaEdu supports teachers in adapting to the evolving education landscape.
