Data from a cough challenge study are displayed with dot charts to demonstrate the importance of graphs in understanding data, principles of graph construction and visual perception. The data are available for use in the classroom.

One of the most difficult topics to teach in geometry is the concept of proof. This article describes ProofBlocks as an innovative approach to helping students develop proficiency in proof. ProofBlocks is an intuitive approach to teaching proof that makes proof accessible to students without sacrificing the rigor of traditional approaches. When…

Not all children are made the same. Learning disabilities like dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia are either not understood or ignored in schools. As a result, the schoolchildren suffer for no fault of theirs and they lag behind in their course of learning. They may find it difficult to achieve the basic skills of learning such as reading,…

Mathematics concepts are most often taught using auditory, sequential instructional methods. Not only are these methods ineffective when used with visual-spatial learners, they may be detrimental to both academic and emotional progress. Ways in which visual-spatial learners process information are explained. One child's story is presented,…

The central and peripheral visual fields are structurally segregated in the brain and are differentiated by their anatomical and functional characteristics. While the central field appears well suited for tasks such as visual search, the periphery is optimized for rapid processing over broad regions. People vary in their abilities to make use of…

In working with right-brained or visual spatial children for the past 20 years, the author has noticed that they all learn in a similar manner. He has also noticed that a high percentage of gifted children are visual spatial learners. The more visual spatial a child is, the higher the potential for school difficulties. Since most teachers are…

This article describes a representation for percent that can help students deepen their understanding of the proportional nature of percent in its applications. (Contains 4 figures.)

Presents examples which help students think visually about algebraic operations on vectors and the associated mappings of the plane. The pictures help students actively participate in defining new functions by enabling them to compose simpler known functions. Conversely, functions can be factored into the composition of simple functions. (JN)

One reason students give for attending a community college is that the mathematics requirements appear to be less rigorous. Many of the author's students have told her that they have chosen to seek an associate's degree first because they do not feel confident that they could successfully complete the mathematics requirement at a four-year…

This article provides a rationale for using graphic organizers based on the fact that students with language disorders often struggle with traditional instruction that places large demands on language skills. Effective features of graphic organizers are identified and examples of direct instruction in secondary algebra using graphic organizers are…

Discussion of how visual analogies aid students' understanding of math and science focuses on new types of representations that use computers. Topics addressed include understanding and cognitive performance; the role of representations in understanding, including examples; evidence of instructional effectiveness of new representations; and…

Describes the Agam program, a 36-unit curriculum program to introduce students to basic visual concepts and that applies visual abilities and visual thinking to learning tasks. Describes two units at the third grade level, "Ratio and Proportion" and "Numerical Intuition," and makes observations of the students' learning. (MDH)

Discusses a five-year study of an integrated curriculum model in which a science/reading strategy replaced traditional reading/writing instruction. How instructors exploited the links between print and visual literacy with video, television programming, and other media is detailed. A related project that helps K-12 teachers develop graphics and…

The Image Processing Technology Project explores the possibility of using digital image processing in mathematics and science education. Describes the origin of the project and reports the results of a 4-week teacher workshop that trained over 80 teachers in the techniques and technology of image processing. (MDH)