This paper describes the development and testing of computer-based materials for improving understanding of topographic maps and geologic block diagrams and the associated visualization skills. The authors found that the computer-based instructional modules led to significant improvement of spatial visualization abilities and also eliminated a pre-existing gender difference in those abilities. Significantly smaller gains were seen in a comparable control group.
Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, New Orleans, LA, April 7-10, 2002. The author has available a pdf version of this resource (under the heading of 'Notes', subheading 'research on visualization in college geology labs' at the URL listed below.
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