Two experiments examined the origins of joint visual attention in 6- to 11-month-olds with a training procedure. Results indicated that joint visual attention does not reliably appear prior to 10 months; from about 8 months, a gaze-following response can be learned; and simple learning is not sufficient as the mechanism through which joint…

Reviews and discusses the literature on visual design and visual cognition; summarizes the results of an empirical study that investigated whether computer screen design with good visual design principles influence the learning process; and identifies challenges encountered in conducting research on screen design with respect to achievement…

The use of visual representation to learn science can be traced to Louis Agassiz, Harvard Professor of Zoology, in the mid-19th century. In Agassiz's approach, students were to study nature through carefully observing, drawing and then thinking about what the observations might add up to. However, implementation of Agassiz's student-centered…

Indicates that the auditory modality was superior to the visual/written modality in learning and retention. (RB)

A research paper which questions whether watching color television at home affect the way children respond to the presence or absence of color in presentations at school. (Author/HB)

This report uses mental model theory to create a taxonomy of picture functions in order to relate these functions to learning theories. A rough outline of picture functions is presented, consisting of a retrieval function, a focus function, a construction function, and a supplantation function. It is suggested that this taxonomy could be helpful…

This paper proposes that three properties of graphic materials can be manipulated by instructional designers to model cognitive processes and thus help students learn. These properties are: the distance of elements in the graphic display from each other, the orientation of the elements to each other, and the sequence in which the elements are…

Educating the child to be visually literate may help solve such educational problems as lack of motivation, irrelevancy and inefficient learning. (JH)

THE DESIGN OF THIS STUDY WAS TO (1) DESCRIBE A WAY OF ANALYZING GRAPHIC OR PICTORIAL MATERIALS, (2) DESIGN SOME STIMULUS MATERIALS WITH THIS METHOD OF ANALYSIS IN MIND, AND (3) TEST SOME PREDICTIONS BASED ON IMPLICATIONS RELATED TO THE ANALYTICAL METHOD IN AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY. A SET OF GRAPHIC MATERIALS WAS ANALYZED AND DESCRIBED WITHIN A…

Some basic tenets of the audiovisual approach to language instruction are challenged in this article which considers the ways in which "meaning" is given to sound sequences. It is argued here that (1) the meaning of a sound sequence does not derive solely or primarily from visual stimuli, (2) that different parts of speech derive meaning in…

An experiment was conducted in which the relationships of basic television and film codes to particular literacy mental skills were examined. Different versions of the same film, each focusing on a different code, were produced and shown to fifth graders. It was found that children with initially better mastery of the relevant skills extract more…

Based on the work of Bruner, Piaget and others that indicates that the child's attention to misleading visual clues is an important factor in his lack of ability to conserve, this study is an attempt to demonstrate the effects of instruction in drawing two-dimensional figures on the ability of children (22 kindergarten children from middle class…

Two learning strategies--visual imagery and self-questioning--designed to increase reading comprehension were taught to six learning disabled secondary students. Results indicate that LD students can learn the two strategies and can apply them in both reading ability level and grade level materials. Use of the strategies resulted in greater…