Abstract:

Visual acuity puzzles can address the concern that important information in a visual scene is often missed due to the the fact that the observer does not understand they can only focus maximally on one small part of the full scene at a time. Puzzle design helps us overcome this limitation by developing more complete search strategies as we focus on visual imagery.

Two puzzles are presented. One is intended for young learners, the other for all ages. Puzzles are of like construction: each within a fully transparent envelop, each presents a pair of 11 x 17 inch (28 x 43 cm) images - a front side face features a tranquil scene with centerpiece which is backed by a scene of turbulent displacement of the centerpiece's elements scattering them about in a resizing that reflects their distance from center; the transparent envelop allows for drawing over the scene images so displaced features can be repositioned and resized to match their original form.

Drawing back scene elements is done at near vision working distance of 16 inches (40 cm). The visual acuity range of resizing centerpiece elements from their displaced locations towards center is 20/20 to 20/800 (6/6 to 6/190+).

The puzzles may be executed with precision of detail and color or they may be used creatively to serve numerous developmental and therapeutic objectives. A SMART objective demonstrating puzzle use applied to the pre-writing skill of shaping and sizing letters is featured.

These puzzles were created by Roxanne Frick Del Frari, a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Vision Rehabilitation Program (now at Salus University). Vision rehabilitation efforts, Photoshop technology, and Roxanne's love of a good beach were integrated in developing these coloring puzzles to work with students and help explain perceptual acuity concepts to families.

This virtual presentation is guide to puzzle use presented posthumously on Roxanne's behalf by her spouse, Paul.

The puzzles are prepared for you to download free of charge for personal and education use.

The presentation is a guide, including SMART objectives, to explain the design elements and uses of Roxanne's Visual Acuity Puzzles; I do so posthumously for her.

Keywords:

Vision therapy, vision milestones, visual proficiency, pre-writing skills, incidental learning.