Frontier Science: Multi-representational learning: Beyond dual coding

Multi-representational learning refers to the way that students learn when they interpret more than one representation that others, often experts, have created or construct representations for themselves. While common across all of education, this is a particular focus in STEM. Imagine a science classroom without photographs, diagrams, models, graphs, formulas and simulations as learners and teachers write, draw, talk and gesture. In this talk, I will explore five good and three bad reasons for teaching and learning with multiple representations in science. Then, we will explore some of the main challenges for students and what teachers can do to help.