Pictorial competence refers to the many factors involved in perceiving, interpreting, understanding, and using pictures.
Based on the provided reference, pictorial competence is a developmental skill.
Key Aspects of Pictorial Competence
According to the reference, pictorial competence encompasses several interconnected skills related to interacting with images:
- Perceiving pictures: The ability to see and recognize the visual elements within a picture.
- Interpreting pictures: Making sense of what the picture represents or conveys.
- Understanding pictures: Grasping the nature and meaning of the image.
- Using pictures: Applying this understanding to interact with or create pictures.
Development and the Role of Experience
The reference highlights that pictorial competence:
- Develops Gradually: It unfolds over the first few years of life, indicating it's a learned and developing ability rather than innate.
- Requires Experience for Full Understanding: While accurate perception of pictures doesn't require experience, a deeper understanding of what pictures are and how they function does. This suggests that interacting with various images over time is crucial for mastering pictorial competence.
In essence, pictorial competence is the evolving set of skills that allows individuals, particularly young children, to navigate the world of images effectively, moving from simply seeing them to fully understanding and utilizing them.
