Multiple Representations: Visual Representations

Overview

Visual representations help students understand what a number represents as well as recognize relationships between numbers. Using visuals, such as pictures, diagrams, and charts, allows for additional processing time and supports learners by breaking down skills such as Counting and Estimation into more manageable parts.

Use It in the Classroom

Using visual representations can lead to clearer delivery of content and greater retention of key concepts in Long-term Memory. Visuals also serve an important role in maintaining student Attention and are a touchpoint for students to refer back to on their own, as external memory aids and individual practice.

Design It into Your Product

Videos are chosen as examples of strategies in action. These choices are not endorsements of the products or evidence of use of research to develop the feature.

Watch how DragonBox Algebra 5+ uses visuals to teach algebraic concepts to learners as young as 5. By presenting algebraic Operations with visuals, learners understand fundamental algebraic relationships in game manner without text.

For a developer, creating visual representations that pair with media, such as text and audio, can make Symbolic Number and Operations more accessible to learners. Meaningful visuals support learners' recognition of essential information, and providing a visual cue enhances a learner's ability to accurately retrieve the content associated with the visual.

View References

Resources

Below are additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.

Creative Commons

Resource to search for OER content, such as pictures, charts, diagrams, and maps

Learning through Visuals

Researchers' explanation of the achievable outcomes from learning through visuals

Multimedia Learning

Subtopic that includes research on the use of multimedia and visuals in instruction on Digital Promise's Research Map

Visual Math Improves Math Performance

Youcubed blog on the importance of visual mathematics

Visuals in Math

Teacher's blog on incorporating visuals