Facts acquired from reading or listening are changed to more familiar and meaningful visual forms. In our study of habitats, we used visual imaging to teach the characteristics of a tundra. We encouraged students to create and share their own visual images for remembering characteristics of the other habitats. Visual Displays Visual displays are memory-enhancing techniques used to organize and learn science material. Research on the use of graphic displays with students who have academic problems is sparse but encouraging.
Concept mapping is an effective tool for organizing and learning science material.
Concept maps consist of main and subordinate ideas. They depict relationships between and among the key concepts as well as link new information to existing knowledge. For example, the student may see in a single visual display the six habitats along with prominent descriptions. Figure 1 is a concept map of the six habitats and their selected characteristics. This type of visual display enables students to observe common themes or concepts.