The role of visual aids in primary school textbooks in enhancing cognitive, emotional, and social development through terrestrial wildlife imagery

Abstract

This study explores the role of visual aids, specifically images of local and national terrestrial wildlife, in primary school textbooks and their effect on cognitive, emotional, and social development. Early childhood is a crucial learning stage, where textbooks play a vital role in knowledge acquisition. Incorporating visuals enhances comprehension, memory retention, and engagement, supporting diverse learning styles. Cognitive theories like Paivio's dual-coding theory suggest that combining text and images activates multiple cognitive channels, improving learning outcomes. Analyzing National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks for classes 1-5 in subjects like Bengali, English, Mathematics, and Environmental Science, the study found varying frequencies of pictures, with English books having the most. It recommends including more species to promote biodiversity awareness and deepen young learners' understanding of the natural world.