Thinking Visually

Language is a marvelous tool for communication, but it is greatly overrated as a tool for thought. This volume documents the many ways pictures, visual images, and spatial metaphors influence our thinking. It discusses both classic and recent research that support the view that visual thinking occurs not only where we expect to find it, but also where we do not. Much of comprehending language, for instance, depends on visual simulations of words or on spatial metaphors that provide a foundation for conceptual understanding. __Thinking Visually__ supports comprehension by reducing jargon and by providing many illustrations, educational applications, and problems for readers to solve. It provides a broad overview of topics that range from the visual images formed by babies to acting classes designed for the elderly, from visual diagrams created by children to visual diagrams created by psychologists, from producing and manipulating images to viewing animations. The final chapters discuss examples of instructional software and argue that the lack of such software in classrooms undermines the opportunity to develop visual thinking. The book includes the Animation TutorTM DVD to illustrate the application of research on visual thinking to improve mathematical reasoning. Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Images Versus Words Thinking With Symbols Propositions Perceptual Symbols Organization of the Book Summary Chapter 2 Images Before Words Visual Memory From Memory to Concepts Small Quantities Space, Quantity, and Time Numerical Reasoning With Language Summary Chapter 3 Estimation The Mental Number Line Spatial Skills Measurement Mixture Problems Interpolation Summary Chapter 4 Spatial Metaphors Applications to Cognitive Psychology Applications to Mathematics Grounding Metaphors Searching Search Spaces Linking Metaphors Summary Chapter 5 Producing Images Remembering Visual Images Advantages of Images Prototypical Images Limitations of Images Reality Monitoring Breakdown of Reality Monitoring Summary Chapter 6 Manipulating Images Scanning Images Causal Reasoning Rearranging Objects Designing With Images The Geneplore Model Summary Chapter 7 Viewing Pictures Evocative Pictures Decorative Pictures Static Pictures Animated Pictures Static Versus Animated Pictures Summary Chapter 8 Producing Diagrams Constructing Representations Emphasizing Spatial Relations Representing Space and Time Matching Diagrams to Problems Spatial Representations of Meaning Semantic Networks as Instructional Tools Summary Chapter 9 Comprehending Graphs Reasoning From Graphs Interpreting Events Over Time The Algebra Sketchbook Exponential Growth Modeling Population Growth Summary Chapter 10 Words and Pictures Integration in Working Memory Cognitive Load Theory Mayer's Multimedia Theory Words and Images Simulated Actions Inferences Summary Chapter 11 Vision and Action Memory for Actions Acting Chess Reasoning Reflections Manipulatives Summary Chapter 12 Virtual Reality Examples of Virtual Reality Exploring Environments Ecological Psychology and Multimedia Situation Awareness Virtual Military Training Virtual Biking Virtual Driving Summary Chapter 13 Science Instructional Software Physics Ecological Systems Transfer of Principles Chemistry Scientific Design Summary Chapter 14 Mathematics Instructional Software SimCalc The Animation TutorTM Object Manipulation Simulation ANIMATE Summary Chapter 15 Conclusions Multimedia Learning The Need The Future? Appendix: The Animation TutorTM DVD Dimensional Thinking Chemical Kinetics Personal Finance Population Growth Average Speed Catch Up Task Completion Leaky Tanks Encapsulated Summaries Chapter 1: Images Versus Words Chapter 2: Images Before Words Chapter 3: Estimation Chapter 4: Spatial Metaphors Chapter 5: Producing Images Chapter 6: Manipulating Images Chapter 7: Viewing Pictures Chapter 8: Producing Diagrams Chapter 9: Comprehending Graphs Chapter 10: Words and Pictures Chapter 11: Vision and Action Chapter 12: Virtual Reality Chapter 13: Science Instructional Software Chapter 14: Mathematics Instructional Software Chapter 15: Conclusions References Author Index Subject Index Language Is A Marvelous Tool For Communication, But It Is Greatly Overrated As A Tool For Thought. This Volume Documents The Many Ways Pictures, Visual Images, And Spatial Metaphors Influence Our Thinking. It Discusses Both Classic And Recent Research That Support The View That Visual Thinking Occurs Not Only Where We Expect To Find It, But Also Where We Do Not. Much Of Comprehending Language, For Instance, Depends On Visual Simulations Of Words Or On Spatial Metaphors That Provide A Foundation For Conceptual Understanding. Thinking Visually Supports Comprehension By Reducing Jargon And By Providing Many Illustrations, Educational Applications, And Problems For Readers To Solve. It Provides A Broad Overview Of Topics That Range From The Visual Images Formed By Babies To Acting Classes Designed For The Elderly, From Visual Diagrams Created By Children To Visual Diagrams Created By Psychologists, From Producing And Manipulating Images To Viewing Animations. The Final Chapters Discuss Examples Of Instructional Software And Argue That The Lack Of Such Software In Classrooms Undermines The Opportunity To Develop Visual Thinking. The Book Includes The Animation Tutor Dvd To Illustrate The Application Of Research On Visual Thinking To Improve Mathematical Reasoning.--jacket. Images Versus Words -- Images Before Words -- Estimation -- Spatial Metaphors -- Producing Images -- Manipulating Images -- Viewing Pictures -- Producing Diagrams -- Comprehending Graphs -- Words And Pictures -- Vision And Action -- Virtual Reality -- Science Instructional Software -- Mathematics Instructional Software -- Conclusions. Stephen K. Reed. Accompanying Cd Includes The Animation Tutor -- A Curriculum Development Project That Contains Eight Modules That Encourage And Support Visual Thinking Through Manipulation And Animation To Help People Reason About Mathematics. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Language is a marvelous tool for communication, but it is greatly overrated as a tool for thought. This volume documents the many ways pictures, visual images, and spatial metaphors influence our thinking. It discusses both classic and recent research that support the view that visual thinking occurs not only where we expect to find it, but also where we do not. Much of comprehending language, for instance, depends on visual simulations of words or on spatial metaphors that provide a foundation for conceptual understanding. Thinking Visually supports comprehension by reducing jargon and by providing many illustrations, educational applications, and problems for readers to solve. It provides a broad overview of topics that range from the visual images formed by babies to acting classes designed for the elderly, from visual diagrams created by children to visual diagrams created by psychologists, from producing and manipulating images to viewing animations. The final chapters discuss examples of instructional software and argue that the lack of such software in classrooms undermines the opportunity to develop visual thinking. The book includes the Animation Tutor downloadable resources to illustrate the application of research on visual thinking to improve mathematical reasoning. This volume documents the many ways in which pictures, visual images, and spatial metaphors influence our thinking. It discusses both classic and recent research that supports the view that visual thinking occurs not only where we expect to find it, but also where we do not.