Barbara Seels Papers 1968-1999; MSS-156

Barbara Seels Papers 1968-1999; MSS-156

This collection houses research and teaching materials documenting Barbara Seels’ work in the field of visual literacy between 1968 and 1999.

Biographical Note:
Dr. Barbara Seels is currently Associate Professor Emeritus from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Education, Department of Instruction and Learning, Program in Instructional Design and Technology, where she retired from active teaching in 1999. Much of her professional background may be reviewed in her enclosed vita.

Her professional research and scholarly work has been focused on the effects of television upon society, particularly children and adolescents.

She has been an active member of the International Visual Literacy Association and has contributed a number of articles and presentations and held several elected offices in that organization.

Scope and Content Note:
Series I: Research contains published articles by other visual literacy professionals and is arranged into fourteen subseries including Reading, Language, Development and Visualization, and Visualization and Visual Literacy. Of particular interest is Sub-Series N: Television, which documents research in nine areas including a study on the effects of television on children.

Series II: Teaching consists of class syllabi, papers, and related class assignments. It also houses several theses and dissertations reviewed by Seels.

Series III: Professional consists of an assortment of publications, presentations, grants, and projects submitted during Seels’ career. Her vita provides a more concise and up to date chronology of her career and a list of publications.

Series IV: Games and Exercises consists of several board games, exercises, and visual games that challenge players to concentrate on visualization rather than on the use of text.