2006
DOI: 10.1002/bmb.2006.49403402094
|View full text |Cite
|
Sign up to set email alerts
|

The importance of visual literacy in the education of biochemists*

Abstract: Visualization is an essential skill for all students and biochemists studying and researching the molecular and cellular biosciences. In this study, we discuss the nature and importance of visualization in biochemistry education and argue that students should be explicitly taught visual literacy and the skills for using visualization tools as essential components of all biochemistry curricula. We suggest that, at present, very little pedagogical attention has been given to this vital component of biochemistry … Show more

Help me understand this report

Search citation statements

Order By: Relevance

Paper Sections

Select...
1

Citation Types

2
215
0
28

Year Published

2007
2007
2010
2010

Publication Types

Select...
6

Relationship

4
2

Authors

Journals

citations
Cited by 197 publications
(256 citation statements)
references
References 31 publications
2
215
0
28
Order By: Relevance
“…Typical topics will include not only the latest innovations in teaching, learning, and assessment, but also more specialized topics, such as visual or molecular literacy. In this regard, we will, for instance, present what the literature says about how one can improve the design and use of models such as diagrams, computer images, and animations to enhance the conceptual knowledge and visualization skills of our students [38]. Another example of the many topics that we intend bringing to the readership is the issue of what constitutes sound (and unsound) educational research and how a basic educational research study can be performed.…”
Section: Goals and Focus Of The Columnmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Typical topics will include not only the latest innovations in teaching, learning, and assessment, but also more specialized topics, such as visual or molecular literacy. In this regard, we will, for instance, present what the literature says about how one can improve the design and use of models such as diagrams, computer images, and animations to enhance the conceptual knowledge and visualization skills of our students [38]. Another example of the many topics that we intend bringing to the readership is the issue of what constitutes sound (and unsound) educational research and how a basic educational research study can be performed.…”
Section: Goals and Focus Of The Columnmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In addition, biochemists require other cognitive skills for visualizing and interpreting the myriad of external representations that communicate our science [3]. We use external representations (ERs) to describe the range of visual tools used to communicate scientific knowledge in the external world (e.g.…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…ERs can be static or dynamic and include diagrams, pictures, physical models, animations, simulations, multimedia, and virtual realities. In the submicroscopic, abstract world of biochemistry, interpreting ERs is often the key to unlocking a meaningful conceptual understanding of structure, function, and process [3]. However, the ERs that we use can be graphically complex in terms of their constituent symbolic language and therefore difficult for students to interpret.…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
See 1 more Smart Citation
“…In the next article, I will focus on the meaning and assessment of conceptual understanding and the often neglected cognitive skills that are so essential for the development of expert biochemists and molecular biologists. This will then be followed by an article on assessing visual literacy and visualization skills, a topic of extreme importance to modern biochemists, whose success relies very heavily on visual tools to represent the microscopic and molecular world they investigate [4]. Finally, the last article on assessment will expose readers to a variety of useful tools that can be easily used to evaluate the quality of assessment tasks so that they meet required standards and are valid measures of students' achievement of course objectives.…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%