This paper explores the role of diagrams and text in middle school students’ understanding and visualisation of human body systems. We develop a common framework based on structure and function to assess students’ responses across diagram and verbal modes. Visualisation is defined in terms of understanding transformations on structure and relating these with function. We found in Indian students a high dependence on the verbal mode. Students expressed structure as well as function concepts significantly better through text rather than diagrams. Prior knowledge strongly influenced visualisation (as assessed through transformations) and comprehension of text and diagrams including the ability to move flexibly between text and diagrams. We suggest better use of line drawings for integrating structure and function: practices that should equip the learner to “dual-code” text with diagrams, thereby leading to enhanced understanding and expression.
Keywords: Visualization, Biology education, diagrams, human body systems
PUBLICATIONS
- Mathai, S and Ramadas, J (2009). Visuals and Visualisation of Human Body Systems. International Journal of Science Education, 31 (3), pp: 431-458.
- Ramadas, J and Mathai, S (2008). Book Review. Visualization in Science Education. John K. Gilbert (Ed.), 2005, Dodrecht: Springer. International Journal of Science Education 30 (15), pp: 2091-2096.
- Mathai, S and Ramadas, J (2007). Visualising structure and function of the digestive system. Abstract for Gordon Research Conference on Visualization in Science and Education, Bryant University, RI, USA.
- Mathai, S (2007). Visual Thinking in the Classroom: Insights from the research literature. In Natarajan, C and Choksi, B (Eds.) Proceedings of the Conference epiSTEME-2, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education. Mumbai: Macmillan.
- Mathai, S and Ramadas, J (2006). The visual and verbal as modes to express understanding of the human body, In Barker-Plummer, D, Cox, R. and Swoboda N. (Eds.) Diagrammatic Representation and Inference, Diagrams 2006, LNAI 4045, pp: 173-175. Berlin: Springer-Verlag
- Mathai, S and Ramadas, J (2004). Putting Imagery back into Learning: The Case of Drawings in Human Physiology, Proceedings of the Conference epiSTEME-1, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai, pp: 34-36.
- Ramadas, J, Kawalkar, AM, Mathai, S (2004). Small Science Class 1 & 2 Teacher’s Book (English), Mumbai: Oxford University Press.
Thesis advisor: Jayashree Ramadas
Discussant: K. Subramaniam