How Can We Use Visual Literacy (Picture Books) to Impact Pupils' Understandings of Global Learning Issues? Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning Practitioner Research Fund Paper 9

Contemporary society is changing and evolving at a fast pace; children in our society are exposed to a plethora of information, which is both overwhelming and confusing to young minds. It has never been more crucial to help children navigate around the complexities of our world and support them in attaining the essential tools to help them on this learning journey - a toolbox of values, skills and knowledge. Global learning supports children to navigate this complexity. In this research I look at the relationship between reading books and global learning. There is limited research in this field. The paper responds to four key questions: (1) Which frameworks can be used to help select (and deliver) picture books to support global learning?; (2) What common global learning themes are found in picture books?; (3) How are picture books used to encourage children to think about global issues?; and (4) What factors support pupil engagement with global learning using picture books? [This paper was published by Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning in collaboration with the Development Education Research Centre (DERC). The Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning (CCGL) programme is funded by the British Council and UK aid.]