Introduction to Multiple Representations: Their Importance in Biology and Biological Education

This chapter introduces the theoretical perspectives associated with multiple external representations (MERs) (Ainsworth, Comput Educ, 33(2/3):131–152, 1999) and their importance in biology and biological education. We first review Ainsworth’s functional taxonomy of MERs and the related literature i...

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Main Authors: Tsui, Chi-Yan, Treagust, David
Other Authors: David Treagust
Format: Book Chapter
Published: Springer 2013
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32632
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author Tsui, Chi-Yan
Treagust, David
author2 David Treagust
author_facet David Treagust
Tsui, Chi-Yan
Treagust, David
author_sort Tsui, Chi-Yan
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This chapter introduces the theoretical perspectives associated with multiple external representations (MERs) (Ainsworth, Comput Educ, 33(2/3):131–152, 1999) and their importance in biology and biological education. We first review Ainsworth’s functional taxonomy of MERs and the related literature in this area of research. Next, we propose a theoretical cube model to examine and interpret the major themes and theoretical positions of the chapters in this volume, discussing some examples to illustrate our arguments. We conclude by examining the pedagogical functions that MERs can take on giving new meanings—as biology goes from in vivo and in vitro to an in silico research culture and practice using a systems approach to solving biology-based global problems (National Research Council, A new biology for the 21st century, National Academic Press, Washington, DC, 2009)—and the concomitant changes that can be made to improve biological education for the twenty-first century.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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last_indexed 2025-11-14T08:28:56Z
publishDate 2013
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-326322023-02-13T08:01:34Z Introduction to Multiple Representations: Their Importance in Biology and Biological Education Tsui, Chi-Yan Treagust, David David Treagust Chi-Yan Tsui This chapter introduces the theoretical perspectives associated with multiple external representations (MERs) (Ainsworth, Comput Educ, 33(2/3):131–152, 1999) and their importance in biology and biological education. We first review Ainsworth’s functional taxonomy of MERs and the related literature in this area of research. Next, we propose a theoretical cube model to examine and interpret the major themes and theoretical positions of the chapters in this volume, discussing some examples to illustrate our arguments. We conclude by examining the pedagogical functions that MERs can take on giving new meanings—as biology goes from in vivo and in vitro to an in silico research culture and practice using a systems approach to solving biology-based global problems (National Research Council, A new biology for the 21st century, National Academic Press, Washington, DC, 2009)—and the concomitant changes that can be made to improve biological education for the twenty-first century. 2013 Book Chapter http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32632 10.1007/978-94-007-4192-8_1 Springer restricted
spellingShingle Tsui, Chi-Yan
Treagust, David
Introduction to Multiple Representations: Their Importance in Biology and Biological Education
title Introduction to Multiple Representations: Their Importance in Biology and Biological Education
title_full Introduction to Multiple Representations: Their Importance in Biology and Biological Education
title_fullStr Introduction to Multiple Representations: Their Importance in Biology and Biological Education
title_full_unstemmed Introduction to Multiple Representations: Their Importance in Biology and Biological Education
title_short Introduction to Multiple Representations: Their Importance in Biology and Biological Education
title_sort introduction to multiple representations: their importance in biology and biological education
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32632