Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multimedia displays for conceptual discovery: information seeking with strand maps

  • Regular Paper
  • Published:
Multimedia Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article explores the use of a multimedia search interface for digital libraries based on strand maps developed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. As semantic-spatial displays, strand maps provide a visual organization of relevant conceptual information that may promote the use of science content during digital library use. A study was conducted to compare users' cognitive processes during information seeking tasks when using a multimedia strand maps interface, versus the textual search interface currently implemented in the Digital Library for Earth System Education. Quantitative and qualitative data from think-aloud protocols revealed that students were more likely to engage with science content (e.g., analyzing the relevance of science concepts with regard to task needs) during search when using the strand maps interface compared to those using textual searching. In contrast, students using a textual search interface engaged more frequently with surface-level information (e.g., the type of a resource regardless of its science content) during search and retrieval. As a multimedia search interface for digital libraries, strand maps appear to be promising tools to promote conceptual discovery and learning through content-based processes that promote learner engagement with relevant science knowledge.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Macdonald, J., Mason, R.: Information handling skills and resource based learning in an open university course. Open Learn. 13, 38–42 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Deniman, D., Sumner, T., Davis, L., Bhushan, S., Fox, J.: Merging metadata and content-based retrieval methods. J. Digit. Inf. 4 (2003) http://jodi.ecs.soton.ac.uk/Articles/v04/i03/Deniman.

  3. NRC: National Science Education Standards. Washington, DC: National Research Council (NRC), National Academy Press (1996)

  4. Sumner, T., Marlino, M.: Digital Libraries and Educational Practice: A Case for New Models. ACM/IEEE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries (JCDL '04) Tuscon, AZ, ACM Press (2004)

  5. AAAS: Benchmarks for Science Literacy. New York: Project 2061, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Oxford University Press (1993)

  6. AAAS: Atlas of Science Literacy. Washington, DC: Project 2061, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the National Science Teachers Association (2001a)

  7. AAAS: Science for All Americans. New York: Project 2061, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Oxford University Press (1989)

  8. AAAS Designs for Science Literacy. New York: Project 2061, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Oxford University Press (2001b).

  9. Marlino, M., Sumner, T.R., Fulker, D., Manduca, C., Mogk, D.: The Digital Library for Earth System Education: Building Community, Building the Library. Communications of the ACM Special Issue on Digital Libraries, pp. 80–81 (2001)

  10. NSDL: National Science Digital Library Progress Report: Fall 2000–Summer 2003. Boulder, CO, NSDL: 29 (2003)

  11. Kuhlthau, C.C.: Longitudinal case studies of the information search process of users in libraries. Libr. Inf. Sci. Res. 10, 257–304 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kuhlthau, C. C., Tama, S.L.: Information search process of lawyers: A call for ‘just for me’ information services. J. Doc. 57, 25–43 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Vakkari, P.: A theory of the task-based information retrieval process: A summary and generalisation of a longitudinal study. J. Doc. 57, 44–60 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Furnas, G.W., Landauer, T.K., Gomez, L.M., Dumais, S.T.: The Vocabulary Problem in Human-System Communication. Commun. ACM 30, 964–971 (1987)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Mayer, R.E.: Multimedia Learning. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Carney, R.N., Levin, J.R.: Pictorial illustrations still improve students' learning from text. Educ. Psychol. Rev. 14, 5–26 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Goldman, S.R.: Learning in complex domains: when and why do multiple representations help? Learn. Instr. 13, 239–244 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Mayer, R.E.: The promise of multimedia learning: using the same instructional design methods across different media. Lear. Instr. 13, 125–139 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Narayanan, N.H., Hegarty, M.: Multimedia design for communication of dynamic information. Int. J. Hum.-Comp. Stud. 57, 279–315 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Marchionini, G.: Information Seeking in Electronic Environments. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Chmielewski, T.L., Dansereau, D.F.: Enhancing the recall of text: knowledge mapping training promotes implicit transfer. J. Educ. Psychol. 90, 407–413 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. O'Donnell, A.M., Dansereau, D.F., Hall, R.H.: Knowledge maps as scaffolds for cognitive processing. Educ. Psychol. Rev. 14, 71–86 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Rewey, K.L., Dansereau, D.F., Skaggs, L.P., Hall, R.H., Pitre, U.: Effects of scripted cooperation and knowledge maps on the processing of technical material. J. Educ. Psychol. 81, 604–609 (1989)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. North, C., Schneiderman, B.: Snap-together visualization: Can users construct and operate coordinated visualizations? Int. J. Human Comp. Stud. 53, 715–739 (2000)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  25. Binding, C., Tudhope, D.: KOS at your service: Programmatic access to knowledge organisation systems. J. Digit. Inf. 4 (2004) http://jodi.ecs.soton.ac.uk/Articles/v04/i04/Binding/.

  26. Arms, W., Hillmann, D. et al.: A Spectrum of Interoperability: The Site for Science Prototype for the NSDL. D-Lib Magazine. 8 (2002) http://www.dlib.org/dlib/january02/arms/01arms.html.

  27. OAI: The Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting. OAI-PMH, Open Archives Initiative. Last accessed 2005 (2001)

  28. Ahmad, F., Bhushan, S., Gu, Q., Sumner, T.: The concept space interchange protocol. ACM/IEEE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries (JCDL ′04) Tuscon, AZ, ACM Press (2004)

  29. Sumner, T., Ahmad, F., Bhushan, S., Gu, Q., Molina, F., Willard, S., Wright, M., Davis, L., Janee, G.: Linking learning goals and educational resources through interactive concept map visualizations. Int. J. Digit. Libr. 5, 18–24 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Sumner, T., Ahmad, F., Gu, Q., Molina, F., Willard, S., Wright, M., Davis, L., Bhushan, S., Janee, G.: A web service interface for creating concept browsing interfaces. D-Lib Magazine 10 (2004)

  31. W3C: Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 1.1 Specification, Ferraiolo, Jon, Fujisawa, Jun, and Jackson, Dean. Last accessed 2004 (2003)

  32. Gu, Q., Ahmad, F., Molina, F., Sumner, T.: Dynamically generating conceptual browsing interfaces for digital libraries using SVG. Third Annual Conference on Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG Open ′04) Tokyo, Japan (2004)

  33. Ericsson, K.A., Simon, H.A.: Protocol Analysis: Verbal Reports as Data (Rev. ed.), Cambridge, MA, MIT Press (1993)

  34. Chi, M.T.H., de Leeuw, N., Chiu, M.-H., LaVancher, C.: Eliciting self-explanations improves understanding. Cogn. Sci. 18, 439–477 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Kintsch, W.: Comprehension: A Paradigm for Cognition. Cambridge: Cambridge, University Press (1998)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Digital Library for Earth System Education Program Center, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 3000, 80307, Boulder, CO, US

    Kirsten R. Butcher & Sonal Bhushan

  2. Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado at Boulder, Campus Box 430, 80309-0430, Boulder, CO, US

    Kirsten R. Butcher & Tamara Sumner

Authors
  1. Kirsten R. Butcher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sonal Bhushan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tamara Sumner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kirsten R. Butcher.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Butcher, K.R., Bhushan, S. & Sumner, T. Multimedia displays for conceptual discovery: information seeking with strand maps. Multimedia Systems 11, 236–248 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00530-005-0004-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00530-005-0004-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation