Creation and Practice of “Visual Language Drill”

—A Note on Educational Use of Visual Language—

Abstract

“Visual language” refers to a method of combining textual content with graphic elements such as diagrams or illustrations to convey ideas and information. Proponents of this approach regard drawing as a systematic process whose vocabulary and grammar can be learned, similar to spoken or written languages. The author reviewed studies related to visual-language-based learning structures proposed for systematically teaching drawing. Based on this analysis, the author designed and developed the “Visual Language Drill,” a supplementary educational tool for art education, particularly in the domain of arts and crafts. This paper outlines the contexts that resulted in the creation of the Visual Language Drill. It also presents practical examples of the proposed tool, detailing its application at the elementary school affiliated with Saitama University’s Faculty of Education, where the author serves as a part-time arts and crafts instructor. This study aimed to evaluate the educational impact of the Visual Language Drill by obtaining participants’ feedback. Thus, the paper presents the educational benefits of the tool based on the outcomes of a questionnaire survey conducted with students and their parents in conjunction with the study.