Static and dynamic visual representations: Individual differences in processing

The benefits of visual representations that are added to (written or spoken)

words to enhance learning are beyond doubt and have been well-established

throughout educational research in the last two decades. In this regard, the

preceding chapters have introduced and discussed the cognitive foundations

for learning with different kinds of visual representations and the ways

they can be used throughout different learning scenarios. This chapter adds

another aspect to this overall view by addressing when and why dynamic

representations are beneficial for learning and whether they are in any way

superior to static pictures. Moreover, we focus on whether such learning

effects differ with respect to different conditions as well as different learner

characteristics, such as prior knowledge, cognitive style and spatial ability.

We conclude that different visual representations may be more useful in specific

situations; however, using any visual representation is preferable to

none at all.