Initial Publication Date: September 8, 2006

Recommended Reading

These references provide an introduction to the subject of teaching and learning with visualizations. An extensive set of additional references can be found by visiting the browse references page. There are also essays on teaching with visualizations contributed by researchers in the field.

  • Tversky et al., 2002 , Animation: Can It Facilitate?

    A review of the literature addressing whether animations improve learning. (Here is a preprint pdf file (Acrobat (PDF) 240kB Feb24 04) of this resource, courtesy of the author.)

  • Tversky, 2005 , Visuospatial Reasoning

    A cognitive scientist's understanding of visualization with a review of relevant literature. (Here is a preprint word file (Microsoft Word 3.5MB Feb24 04) of this resource, courtesy of the author.)

  • Piburn et al., 2002 , The Hidden Earth: Visualization of Geologic Features and their Subsurface Geometry

    A description of visualizations, in the form of on-line course materials, teaching about topography and block diagrams. An in depth study tests the impact of these resources on students' visualization skills and understanding of the content. (Here is a preprint pdf of this resource, from the author's website (more info) .)

  • Gobert and Clement, 1999 , Effects of Student-Generated Diagrams versus Student-Generated Summaries on Conceptual Understanding of Causal and Dynamic Knowledge in Plate Tectonics

    An experiment looking at the impact of drawing diagrams on the understanding students gain from text.

  • Dyche et al., 1993 , Questions and Conjectures Concerning Models, Misconceptions and Spatial Ability

    An early paper reporting students' misconceptions when learning from physical models.

  • Kastens et al., 2001 , Development and Evaluation of Where are We?: Map-skills Software and Curriculum

    A study of elementary school students that looks specifically at the relationships between visualization tools and map reading skills.

  • Dutrow, 2007 ,Visual Communication: Do You See What I See?

    • A paper that explores the differences between student and expert interpretations of visuals and teaching visual literacy.

  • Kastens and Ishikawa, 2006 , Spatial Thinking in the Geosciences and Cognitive Sciences: A cross-disciplinary look at the intersection of the two fields

    A paper that discusses major tasks that professional geoscientists and geoscience learners tackle, with a focus on the spatial nature of the tasks and underlying cognitive processes.

  • National Academy Press, 2005 , Learning to Think Spatially: GIS as a support system in the K-12 curriculum

    A paper that examines how spatial thinking might be incorporated into existing standards-based instruction across the school curriculum.