Creating Visual Representations

Element · All elements
Evidence · 3 claims (2 for, 1 mixed) · 4 studies (2 causal, 1 review, 1 theoretical), q2–q3 · 1 of 4 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description

Creating visual representations is the element in which learners externalize understanding through diagrams, sketches, models, or other visuals.

Design Implications

Affordances

• Creating Visual Representations

Claims

• Multiple representations improve learning [+M]
• Content-specific external representations increase appropriate resource use without increasing shared knowledge after collaboration [~W] — attached 2026-10-18 from Frank Fischer (2005), which proposed "External representation tools (content-specific vs. content-independent graphical representations) as collaboration supports".
• Triads with access to each other's concept maps were more efficient in collaborative problem solving [+W]

Related Elements

• Graphic Organizers
• Concept Mapping

Examples

• kar2ouche: an electronic storyboarding tool in which pupils build frame-by-frame visual representations of a text

Key Sources

• Ainsworth, S. (2006). DeFT: A conceptual framework for considering learning with multiple representations. Learning and Instruction, 16(3), 183-198. doi:10.1016/j.learninstruc.2006.03.001

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	element
id	creating-visual-representations
title	Creating Visual Representations
description	Creating visual representations is the element in which learners externalize understanding through diagrams, sketches, models, or other visuals.
status	review
canonical	True
generated	by codex/unspecified on 2026-04-08
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content

Frontmatter is the page's machine-readable record — see the Schema & Guide.