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Images
Examples
Controls of Climate IV – Mountains (Orography)
This diagram was used to illustrate the concept of terrain and air movement creating rainfall. A diagram is more effective than a photograph for communicating this concept.
(Source: GEOS 112 The Planet Earth - http://online.mq.edu.au/pub/GEOS112)
Ancient Ruins of Palmyria – The Roman East
This photograph is a far more effective way of showing the grandeur, colour, texture of ancient ruins than a diagram
(Source: AHSTRE The Roman East - http://online.mq.edu.au/pub/AHSTRE)
Copyright
As with all material on the internet, images you wish to copy may be affected by copyright. Unlike print publications, the University holds no licence to copy material from the Internet: permission must therefore be obtained to use images. Sometimes permission is granted in the copyright statement of a website holding an image you wish to use (look particularly for "educational use" statements). Also, linking to an image is usually acceptable practice. Frequently, only the image is covered by copyright, and not the subject. If, for example, a website denies you the use of their image of the Mona Lisa, you may be able to obtain permission from a different website to use their image of the same subject. Please refer to http://www.copyright.mq.edu.au/using_em.html or Contact the University Copyright Coordinator for more information.
Points to Consider
- Be clear on the concept you want to communicate before choosing your medium, diagram or photograph.
- Makes sure the images reinforce your text
Style
- A diagram could convey a concept more effectively than a photograph
- A photograph can show colour, patterns and detail more effectively than a diagram
- A black & white photograph could communicate more effectively than colour
Layout
To assist comprehension, place the images close to the related text. Embed the images within the page and avoid having them pop up in a new window. Many people have the pop up window function disabled in their browsers.
Accessibility
Some students turn off the images function in their browsers (because their download speed is slow) and some students will be unable to see the images due to vision impairment. Hence it is essential to include a detailed description of the image for these viewers. The best place to insert this description is in the ALT tag of the HTML code. If you are unsure how to do this, the Centre for Flexible Learning (CFL) will advise and assist. CFL offers a free service, to ensure your site complies with the accessibility guidelines.
How
Placing Images on the Web
For images to appear on the internet, they need to be converted to either a ‘gif’ or ‘jpeg’ format.
- The ‘GIF’ (Graphic Image Format) format is used most effectively to convert images that are made up of large areas of even colour.
- The ‘JPEG’ (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is used to convert photographs or images that have shading or graded tones.
Image Editing Software
You will need image editing software to convert your image to one of these formats.
There is a range of software available
Freeware:
Irfanview
http://www.irfanpview.com
For non commercial use only:
Gimp
http://www.gim.org
Open Source software – may require IT expertise to install
Professional Products:
Photoshop
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/main.html
$400 - $500 AUD for academic version (for non commercial use only)
Compressing Images
Some students access the web via dial up connection; therefore it is advisable to limit the total file size of the images on each page to 60 kilobytes.
Most images will need to be compressed, to reduce their file size. Images that are highly compressed will be smaller in size, but lose clarity. Images that are only slightly compressed will be clearer, yet larger in size. You will need to experiment with different compression rates and compromise to reach the ideal solution.
You can use the image editing software listed above to convert or reduce file size. Google also has a free product Picasa 2, http://picasa.google.com
which in addition to archiving all your photos on your hard drive, will enable you to modify the colour and lighting in photographs and resize and compress them.
Free Image Sites
http://thefreesite.com/Free_Graphics/Free_photos
Has a list of sites where you can download free photos. Each site and sometimes categories or photos within each site have different terms and conditions for downloading photos and their use. It is important to understand and abide by these. Terms and conditions may range from attributing the photographer to registering on the site. Below are a couple of the more substantial Image Sites.
http://www.morguefile.com
http://www.pixelperfectdigital.com
http://www.freeimages.co.uk
Why
Why Use Images
- Different students have different learning styles. Some students process information visually, through images more effectively than text.
- some concepts or ideas can be more clearly communicated visually.
- Appropriate imagery can add depth and clarity to the content
Useful References
Parent Website
http://www.tasi.ac.uk
This is the website for ‘Technical Advisory Service for Images’ a UK Government funded body that provides advise on the use of images to support teaching, learning and research.
Listed below are several useful articles and resources from the TASI site.
Using Images in Education
http://www.tasi.ac.uk/advice/using/images_education.html
Using Images to Reinforce Learning
http://www.tasi.ac.uk/advice/using/using_reinforce.html
The Use of Images to Support Instruction and Presentation
http://www.tasi.ac.uk/advice/using/use.html
Practical Ways to Use Digital Images in Teaching and Learning
http://www.tasi.ac.uk/advice/using/use-examples.html
Can I use images found on the Internet?
http://www.tasi.ac.uk/advice/using/faq_images_internet.html