Is a picture really worth a thousand words? Have you found yourself looking for digital images to augment your lessons and engage your learners? Should you pick a website with detailed pictures or abstract diagrams? In this session, research findings from studies on learning with visual representations will be used to engage teachers in thinking about what types of visuals are most useful for instruction, when they should be used, and how to support students in thinking deeply about visuals presented in the classroom. In this session, we will discuss how to reconcile and implement varied findings from the research literature. For example, research has found that abstract representations support knowledge transfer to new tasks but that novices need concrete representations that can be connected to background knowledge. The first half of this session will be an interactive presentation, in which examples will be used to facilitate discussion. The second half of the presentation will be a demonstration of how to use readily-available digital tools (e.g., PowerPoint and Google images) to create and modify optimal visuals for instruction and learning. Teachers are encouraged to bring a laptop equipped with PowerPoint and wireless access in order to follow along and try out hands-on techniques.
