Graphic organizers can help gifted students organize information and ideas related to a given topic. This article discusses the use of such graphic organizers as structured overviews, Venn diagrams, story maps, and character analysis charts to help teachers develop analysis, synthesis, and evaluation as critical thinking skills. (PB)

Examines the use of pictures by different learners in different ways, and presents guidelines for using pictures in teaching culturally diverse children. The degree of complexity versus simplicity is discussed, the need for effective directional cues is emphasized, and depth and motion cues are described. (LRW)

Describes the use of cartoons in presenting a historical perspective of soil microbiology that makes this information more entertaining to introductory students. Presents basic historical facts and major accomplishments of the pioneering soil microbiologists in a factual but tongue-in-cheek survey. (Author/JRH)

Describes library uses of presentation graphics software and offers tips for creating electronic presentations. Tips include: audience retention; visual aid options; software package options; presentation planning; presentation showing; and use of text, colors, and graphics. Sidebars note common presentation errors and popular presentation…

Describes how a film regarding a controversial issue (evolution education) can be used in the classroom to generate student interest and initiate excellent opportunities for teaching critical thinking skills in high school biology. Daily activities are provided to demonstrate how a lesson on evolution was built around this film. (ZWH)

Reports results of two studies using physics materials to determine the parameters of pictorial analogies in combination with expository text. Shows that pictorial analogies can improve learning significantly if they are designed properly and used together with the text. Concludes that the analogies should have high structural similarity between…

Traces the evolution of page design to improve the readability of technical writing to the influence of Peter Ramus, who used bracketed outlines to show the relationships among ideas with larger concepts. Describes how the Ramist method was used by Renaissance English physicians to create medical texts which could be easily understood and…

Discusses Julia Kristeva's notion of text--the tension between the semiotic and the symbolic--and how the tension can be made visible through typeface variation and other shaping techniques possible with word-processing software. Shares ways the author encourages students in first-year English classes to explore possibilities for incorporating…

Investigates the effects of pictorial and textual glosses and a combination thereof on incidental vocabulary growth of foreign language learners. Subjects from second-semester German classes read a narrative text passage under one of three marginal gloss conditions: textual gloss (English translation); pictorial gloss; and text and pictures in the…

Outlines the history of information visualization, the present state of the art, and the possibilities and challenges that lie ahead. Describes how the articles in this special issue (devoted to visualizing information) help explain the principles and practices of information visualization. Challenges technical communicators to expand their view…

Graduate students acquire procedural knowledge as well as declarative knowledge through preparation of databased research for participation in a poster session. The pedagogical framework for the method is reviewed; specific steps are delineated; feedback and evaluation are discussed.(EMK)

Culturally sensitive visual aids designed to help convey drug information to nonliterate female adults requiring antibiotics were developed. Researchers conceptualized the messages, and a local artist produced the visual aids. Comprehension and compliance with prescription instructions were evaluated (N=78). Results and practical implications are…

States that figures help students understand mathematical concepts and provide important clues for solving problems. Introduces some visual images that are effective in promoting mathematics learning. Describes the roles and characteristics of visual images and concludes that visual images can cultivate students' imagination and make them think…

Discusses a study that focused on assessing with children the story outline for developing an animated story about children's fear of the dark. Describes interviews and observations that showed children's reactions to fear of the dark and their response toward the planned visuals for the animation. (LRW)

Describes the procedures and benefits of using Library of Congress Playing Card games to teach library staff number sequencing and thereby reduce shelving errors. Appendixes include illustrations of the cards themselves, including table showing which call numbers correspond to various suits and values; training handouts; and two proposed studies.…