Tools for Knowledge Construction and Visualisation

Martin Sillaots19 April 2006

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Goal of presentation

● To give overview of knowledge (information) construction and exploration methods

● To give ideas how to improve effectiveness of learning (shorter learning time, deeper understanding of relations ...)

● To collect additional ideas and feedback

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Social-Constructivist learning theory

● Knowledge is actively constructed by learner● Learning must be related with actual and

meaningful content● Learning is more effective in collaboration with

co-students

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Construction

● Seeing relations● Sorting● Seeing differences● Comparing● Systematising● Restructuring

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Construction enables

● Get overview of information● Browse or navigate in information● Focus on details● Select details● Change, order, create relations

To see details in a pig picture

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Visualisation

● Visualisation – define information with colour, size, position, relations

● Why it is important to visualise information?● Students learning styles are different● People have strong need for visualisation of

information

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Learning styles

● Visual – student like diagrams● Aural – student prefer listening● Reading/Writing – making notes● Kinesthetic – simulations and practice

Perceptual preference by VARK

Ref: http://www.vark-learn.com/

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Why visualisation is important?

Ref: http://www.essentialmindmapping.com/WhatIsMindMapping.php

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Classification of methods

● One-dimensional – text, list, timeline ...● Hierarchical – outlined list, tree, ...● Network – concept map ...● Two-dimensional – metaphor of map, matrix, ...● Three-dimensional● Multi-dimensional● Other metaphors – building, human body, outer

space

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1-D

● Text mural or lens● Tag or keyword cloud● Simple list● Time line*

To see details and large picture

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Mural for text presentation

Ref: http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/softviz/infoviz/information_mural.html

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Text Mural or lens for search

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Video DNA

Ref: Dulce Ponceleon and Andreas Dieberger IBM Almaden Research Center

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Tag or keyword cloud

Bigger font = most popular topicRef: http://www.tagcloud.com/

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Hierarchical

● Outline list● Tree● Hyperbolic tree*● Tree map*● Content map*

Each node has a single parent nodeSub-nodes can be hiddenDetails vs pig picture

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Outline list

Structure of Multimedia courseCreated with MS Project

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Tree

Ref: http://www.cs.umd.edu/hcil/biodiversity

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Hyperbolic tree

Ref: Jörg Walter Universität Bielefeld

Ref: John Lamping, Ramana Rao, and Peter Pirolli Xerox Palo Alto Research Center

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Hyperbolic tree examples

● StarTree www.inxight.com/products/vizserver ● Walrus - Gallery: Visualization & Navigation

www.caida.org/tools/visualization/walrus/gallery1 ● BubbleBrowser www.flong.com/bubba

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Hyperbolic tree tools

● HyperTree www.kinase.com/tools/HyperTree.html based on Java2

● StarTree www.inxight.com/products/vizserver commercial

● Walrus - Graph Visualization Tool www.caida.org/tools/visualization/walrus based on Java3D and

● Additional packages iv.slis.indiana.edu/sw/index.html

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Tree map

Usenet Hierarchieshttp://netscan.research.microsoft.com/treemap

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Concept map

Inspiration http://www.inspiration.com/What if one node have more than one parent?

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Network

● Computer network topology● Concept map*● Gantt chart*● Arrow diagram (ADM)*● Precedence diagram (PDM)*

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Visual Thesaurus (concept map)

Ref: http://www.thinkmap.com/visualthesaurus.jsp

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news.com Big Picture (concept map)

http://news.com.com/The+Big+Picture/2030-12_3-5843390.html?tag=st.bp

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Cmap (concept map)

Ref: http://cmap.ihmc.us/

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2-D

● Geographic maps - displaying data on map● Map metaphor (flour, city, fields)● Matrix

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Geographical maps

Population density

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Map metaphor

Colour = novelty or importance, size = popularity or capacity, position = relations Ref: hot.news.com

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City metaphor

Ref: Andreas Dieberger, Emory University

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Matrix

Ref: A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge

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3-D and Multi-D

● Table lenses● Multidimensional scaling● Items are described with three or more

attributes● Usually presented on 2 – dimensional screen

with multiple sliders

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Table lenses

Ref: www.inxight.com/products/sdks/tl

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Explorea

Ref: Kaipainen

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Spotfire

Ref: www.spotfire.com

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Time-line*

● Single time-line* ● Gantt chart● Arrow diagram (ADM)● Precedence diagram (PDM)

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Flash authoring system

Ref: http://www.macromedia.com/

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Gantt Chart

Created with MS Project

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PDM Chart

Created with MS Project

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Conclusion

● Selection of tool and method depends on user preferences

● Using of different tools make learning process more interesting and effective

● Its probably not possible to integrate all methods (metaphors)

● Preparation process is longer learning process shorter

● Give students tasks to construct knowledge

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The End