Six experiments assessed young children's spatial orientation relative to their imagined surroundings. The experiments found that children as young as 3.5 years were able, like adults, to accurately walk along a path that replicated the route between their seat and the teacher's desk in their preschool classroom. (MDM)

The role of the hippocampus in memory function is discussed. Work with rats, monkeys, and humans largely agrees concerning its function and structure. The hippocampus is essential for a type of memory designated "declarative," the ability to remember that a visual object was presented in a particular context. (SLD)

A control group of 17 engineering students produced 2- and 3-dimensional shapes with manual drafting tools; an experimental group of 12 used computer-assisted drafting. From pre/posttest data, it appeared that computer models were no better at improving spatial visualization or orthographic projection skills. (SK)

Discusses a process to guide technical writers engaged in writing a script for a video production on a technical subject. Offers an example of the development of such a script from a video demonstrating a surgical procedure. (SR)

Discusses students' use of visual considerations in doing geometrical proofs. Studies ninth-grade students (n=17) in an academically-selective high school in Jerusalem. Concludes that only three out of 16 students who turned in their papers chose symmetry considerations when working on a proof. Contains 16 references. (ASK)

There are several possible approaches in which dynamic computerized environments play a significant and possibly unique role in supporting innovative learning trajectories in mathematics in general and geometry in particular. Describes an approach based on a problem situation and some experiences using it with students and teachers. (Contains 15…

Discusses authors' uses of imagery and suggests related activities for elementary school students. Highlights include using pictures to relate imagery to students' senses; the use of poetry; a worksheet that relates specific examples of imagery from a novel or poem; visualization; making a filmstrip; and appropriate evaluation. (LRW)

How learning styles (massed versus distributed practice) influence the relationship between abilities and task performance was studied with 209 undergraduates. Analysis reveals that perceptual speed contributes to performance for subjects who massed practice, whereas spatial visualization contributed for those who distributed practice.…

Discusses the potential for visualization of metadata and metadata-based surrogates, including a command interface for metadata viewing, site mapping and data aggregation tools, dynamic derivation of surrogates, and a reintroduction of transient hypergraphs from the tradition of cocitation networking. Addresses digital library research into…

Discussion of visual information retrieval systems focuses on an approach for testing novel interfaces that uses bottom-up, stepwise testing to allow evaluation of a visualization itself, rather than restricting evaluation to the system instantiating it. Presents a case study of undergraduates that compares a new visualization technique to more…

Addresses the impact of algebraic calculators on mathematics education. Shows how teaching with technology can lead to more efficient teaching and learning, more student-centered learning, and increase teacher value. Recommends that technology is fully embraced in order to perform the mathematics, thus freeing time for students to concentrate on…

An author cocitation analysis of information retrieval research (1987 to 1997) from Social Scisearch via DIALOG analyzed the top 40 authors to reveal the intellectual structure of information retrieval. Concludes that cocitation analysis contributes to the understanding of intellectual structures in the sciences and possibly in other areas when…

A four-step strategy for teaching problem representation skills is presented. The cognitive skills required for each step are identified, and for each skill, an activity and example are presented. The activities presented are based on research and are offered as suggestions for developing mathematics instruction for students with learning…

Describes a study that determined how different types of dynamic visuals facilitated the achievement of educational objectives, whether the use of dynamic visualization influenced the amount of time needed to process the information, and whether there was an interaction between the amount of time learners view the animation and levels of dynamic…

Discussion of visualization and animation in computer-assisted learning packages focuses on a case study of secondary students in England in an economics course. Highlights include visualization and animation as conceptual anchors; as sources of misconceptions; and the role of instructional activities. (LRW)