Abstract
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.
Unless stated otherwise, the term multiple representations in this chapter refers to multiple external representations (MERs) used by Ainsworth (1999).
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Acknowledgments
We would like to thank John Gilbert, the editor of the series Models and Modeling in Science Education, for his valuable and critical comments and suggestions on an earlier draft of this chapter. We are grateful to Kathleen Fisher, Anat Yarden, Kristy Halverson, and Shaaron Ainsworth, who reviewed the final draft of this chapter. Their comments and suggestions—particularly those from Shaaron Ainsworth whose theoretical framework we have adopted for this volume—have undoubtedly enabled us to improve the quality of this chapter. Any remaining inadequacies are ours.
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Tsui, CY., Treagust, D.F. (2013). Introduction to Multiple Representations: Their Importance in Biology and Biological Education. In: Treagust, D., Tsui, CY. (eds) Multiple Representations in Biological Education. Models and Modeling in Science Education, vol 7. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4192-8_1
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