Examines the effect that learners' prior knowledge has on long-term retention of information. Study (200 undergraduates) found no differences in long-term retention when prior knowledge was controlled, no interaction between prior knowledge and advance organizer strategies, no increased long-term retention with advance organizers, and no increased…

Discusses the nature and quality of visual dictionaries and other reference sources heavily dependent on graphics; and considers whether they are useful reference tools for elementary school libraries, criteria that determine whether they are successful, and how they fit in an information literacy program. (LRW)

Five adult students of various ethnic backgrounds, each deaf or hard-of hearing and blind or visually impaired, participated in testing a newly designed assistance card for soliciting help crossing the street. Results indicated that with the new card 101 pedestrians out of 183 offered assistance. (Contains references.) (CR)

Discusses in great detail aspects connected with the visual and mental processing of chemical images. Presents various types of conventions for translating three-dimensional objects into two-dimensional representations. (Author/CCM)

Describes a study that determined how different types of dynamic visuals facilitated the achievement of educational objectives, whether the use of dynamic visualization influenced the amount of time needed to process the information, and whether there was an interaction between the amount of time learners view the animation and levels of dynamic…

Reports the preliminary findings of a research project that investigated users' mental models in the course of an image search. Generalist users searched a database of 1500 earth and space science images using a system that provided for both textual and content-based retrieval modalities. Factors such as ease of use and satisfaction with the…

The paper suggests a model for linking the realisation and the articulation of both knowledge and accumulation of skills by fourth year students who have majored in visual anthropology. One central component is the integration of student-generated intellectual autobiographies into electronic demonstration portfolios, a formula and strategy that…

A new but costly approach to providing visitors of zoos with information on conservation is the presentation of small exhibits by zoo professionals or volunteers. At these "touch tables" visitors can find out about the biology, ecology, and conservation of animals kept in the zoo. We studied the effect of a touch table on visitors'…

Visual representations are essential for communicating ideas in the science classroom; however, the design of such representations is not always beneficial for learners. This paper presents instructional design considerations providing empirical evidence and integrating theoretical concepts related to cognitive load. Learners have a limited…

This article describes the use of poster preparation and display as an assessment tool and includes feedback from the students and academics concerned. This alternative approach has been used for four years since 2000 for biological science students studying biochemistry. The object of this approach was to get away from traditional teaching…

The effects of computer animations and mental animation on people's mental models of a mechanical system are examined. In 3 experiments, students learned how a mechanical system works from various instructional treatments including viewing a static diagram of the machine, predicting motion from static diagrams, viewing computer animations, and…

Graphing data and/or results from quantitative studies have been noted in the social sciences and the field of education as a means toward employing solid methodological practices. The publication rate in the JCSD of six specified graphs was examined under two editor ships from 1999 to 2003 and 2004. Preliminary results from the review suggested…

This study is an examination of the use of captioned video with beginning students of Spanish. Two groups of students watched a Spanish-language video with or without Spanish captioning and the groups' comprehension scores were compared. Students in the captioning group described how they used the pictures, sound, and captioning to understand the…

This article outlines the methods developed to engage in a detailed investigation of video footage of piano teaching, involving advanced students in both one-to-one and small-group settings. The paper presents the research to date in the field of musical instrument teaching, considers various challenges associated with video footage analysis, and…

Experiencing examples of auditory phenomena can clarify textbook and lecture explanations. The addition of visual displays to auditory demonstrations can make them more understandable. Two sound editor programs, Audacity[R] and Adobe Audition Pro 2.0[R], provide excellent capabilities for the display and authoring of auditory demonstrations.…