ETEC 533 Inquiry e-folio

Information Visualization Technology

Technology has enabled educators to draw upon a plethora of digital tools designed for information visualization where conceptual ideas in science and math (or any subject) are represented visually for students. This seems to provide a visual authenticity to concepts that might otherwise be left up to student imagination to provide a visual context. Many students may not be able to visualize particular concepts and are left with little to formulate an understanding of the concepts they are studying.

The Jasper series addresses this idea as it takes mathematical problem solving and creates actual video footage of the “real-life” problem. Students receive visual context for the problem and are able to “see” what is being described in the problem. TELE’s like Jasper that capitalize on visual techniques to provide authenticity to learning are similar to information visualization technologies that are available for knowledge representation of concepts in science and math.

I presented David Whizzy’s periodic table applet to our class as an example of an information visualization technology that can significantly assist students’ understanding of atomic structure and electron configurations (orbitals). Students are able to view both the nucleus or shell view of a select number of elements where the subatomic particles are visually animated. Considering the difficulty students can have with understanding atomic structure and electron configuration, this tool provides a great visual conceptual model.

In addition to cognitive affordances provided by information visualization technology, many of these technologies foster social discourse of conceptual ideas. Students can provide reflective feedback for student created visualization models, or evaluate the applicability of an existing design.

I have used David Whizzy’s periodic table to invite social conversation of the concepts and found it to be a great launch into meaningful conversation (e.g., comparison of elemental groups). In conjunction with a discussion of atomic structure and electron configuration, the periodic table applet can be viewed and manipulated by a group with the use of a projector. Students can request different elements to be analyzed and can also manipulate the interactive software themselves.

As with many digital technologies, information visualization tools can motivate and engage a learner by providing a visual authenticity to concepts, and can provide a relevant platform for inviting social discourse.

David Whizzy’s Periodic Table: http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/applets/a2.html