The three dimensions of viewing is a framework developed by Goldstein (2016). He suggested a set of questions teachers can ask students when they watch a photo or a video.
Affective Dimension
This category focuses on students’ emotions, personal connections, and the subjective impact of an image. It humanizes the viewing experience, making it relatable and memorable.
Suggested Questions:
-
How do the colors or lighting in the image affect your mood?
-
Does the image remind you of a specific memory or experience?
-
If you could change something about the image, what would it be and why?
Ideas for Implementation:
-
Personal Diaries: After answering affective questions, students can write a short paragraph or poem inspired by their feelings about the image.
-
Role-Playing: Ask students to imagine themselves as a character in the image and describe their emotions and thoughts.
Structural Dimension
This category helps students analyze the composition and technical aspects of the image, fostering visual literacy.
Suggested Questions:
-
What is the role of color, shadow, or light in the image’s composition?
-
Are there any symbols in the image? What might they represent?
-
How does the placement of objects in the frame direct your attention?
Ideas for Implementation:
-
Drawing Extensions: Students sketch what they imagine lies beyond the frame of the image.
-
Group Discussion: Divide students into pairs or groups to discuss how different framing techniques might alter the image’s meaning.
Critical Dimension
This dimension encourages students to analyze the image’s message, purpose, and broader societal context. It develops critical thinking and media literacy.
Suggested Questions:
-
Are there any biases in the way the image is presented? What are they?
-
Does the image challenge or reinforce societal norms or stereotypes?
-
How might the image’s meaning change in a different cultural or historical context?
Ideas for Implementation:
-
Debate Activity: Students debate the potential interpretations of an image and its impact on the audience.
-
Media Comparisons: Provide images with similar themes, but from different sources or periods, and ask students to compare their messages and contexts.
Integrating the Framework into Lessons
Lesson Preparation
-
Customized Question Selection: You can mix and match questions from the three dimensions according to the learning objectives. For younger learners or beginners, simplify the questions or use visuals that are more relatable.
-
Teacher’s Portfolio: Include a checklist of questions from the framework in your lesson planning templates. That will streamline your preparation and ensure consistency.
Application in a Reading Lesson
The Three Dimensions of Viewing can be seamlessly integrated into the warming-up stage of a reading lesson.
Sample Questions to Engage Students:
-
Affective: How does the image of the child make you feel? What emotions do you think the child might be experiencing?
-
Structural: What elements in the image (e.g., clothing, expression, or background) stand out to you? What do you think these elements tell us about the child’s life?
-
Critical: What message does this image convey about the child’s dreams and challenges? Why do you think this image accompanies the text?
Activities:
-
Pair Sharing: Students discuss their answers with a partner to promote collaboration.
-
Pre-Reading Prediction: Based on picture analysis, students predict what the text will be about.
-
Caption Creation: Students write a caption for the image, reflecting its emotional or thematic message.
Benefits of Using the Framework
-
Enhances Engagement: Students connect with the material actively through their emotions, observations, and critical thoughts.
-
Promotes Multiliteracies: Encourages students to think beyond words, interpreting and creating meaning through visuals.
-
Develops Higher-Order Thinking: Questions prompt students to analyze, evaluate, and create, aligning with Bloom’s taxonomy.
By using the Three Dimensions of Viewing framework frequently, teachers can create enriching learning experiences that cultivate students’ critical thinking, creativity, and empathy. This approach transforms visual materials into gateways for deeper learning, discussion, and reflection.
