Customer Reviews

A Field Guide to Using Visual Tools

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A Field Guide To Using Visual Tools is a superb introduction to the practical applications of visual tools such as brainstorming webs, task-specific organizers, and thinking-process maps as part of the education curriculum process. Chapters include: The Mapping Metaphor; The Networking Brain and Mind; Webs of Creativity; The Organizing Mind; Thinking-Process Patterns; Thinking Maps for Reading Minds; and Change Patters. The text is enhanced with appendices on "Thinking Maps Test Scores Summary" and "Reading Comprehension Using Thinking Maps by Marjann Ball". A bibliography, Resources For Visual Tools, Index, and "About the Author" round out this practical, idea generating, highly recommended classroom education development resource.

A field guide to using Visual Tools provides the reader a wide variety of methods to organize, think, and to map out processes. Although the book does not go into great detail about anyone method, it does provide you insights and makes references to where you can find out more information about certain methods. There is enough information to use for practical purposes and to see examples. In addition the author provides suggested software tools to use for some of the diagramming methods.

Just to name many of methods covered in this book:
1) Circle maps
2) Bubble maps
3) Double bubble maps
4) Idea maps
5) Mindscaping
6) Organizers
7) Text Structures
8) Problem-Solution Overview
9) Fish bone diagrams
10) Inductive towering
11) Concept mapping
12) My favorite, System Feedback Loops
13) Thinking maps
14) Tree maps

The book is 147 pages to include the index. I highly recommend this book to teachers, students, those working in corporate america and those who love to think, speculate and hypothesize.

Field Guide to Using Visual Tools
by David Hyerle

According to my personal assessment, this book is the second in a trilogy of research-based books written by David Hyerle, an educational researcher & founder of Innovative Sciences in the 70's/80's.

The other two research-based books are:

- Visual Tools for Constructing Knowledge;
- Student Successes With Thinking Maps;

The author is very smart to use these three research-based books as a self-promotional vehicle to market his core learning technology, embedded in what they call the 'Thinking Maps'.

In a nut shell, 'Thinking Maps' integrate thinking skills & mapping techniques. They are based on our fundamental thinking processes: We analyze information in more or less eight different ways: define, describe, compare/contrast, classify, break down into parts, sequence, cause/effect, establish relationships between things.

Application-wise, they comprise eight specific types of graphic organisers (the author prefers to use the term, visual tools) to ultimately help students & teachers in constructing knowledge, organising information, solving problems & communicating with others.

The eight tools are:

- Brace Map;
- Bridge Map;
- Bubble map;
- Circle map;
- Double Bubble Map;
- Flow Map;
- Multi-Flow Map;
- Tree Map;

Additionally, the core technology also includes a proprietary software, plus videos & other training manuals.

I can sense that their 'Thinking Maps' technology has been influenced somewhat by the Whimbey method, developed by Dr Arthur Whimbey. He wrote two great classics, 'Analytical Reading & Reasoning' & 'Mastering Reading Through Reasoning'.

There is only one singular snobbish aspect of 'Thinking Maps' products: They are only restricted to schools for system-wide implementation. Hence, the technology is, regrettably, not available to private individuals. They don't even bother to entertain enquires from solos.

In my earlier review of 'Visual Tools for Constructing Knowledge', I had mentioned that "This book is more suitable for teachers and students, and not so suitable for business readers...it cannot be used to cover all kinds of reading materials in schools. For examples, a story grid - which is not covered in the book - would be more appropriate to shape understanding of literature texts; a time line or time series - also not overed - would be more appropriate to track chronological events in history textbooks."

I added further that "For the businessman, this book can be somewhat boring, although one or two of the tools e.g. cluster and fishbone diagrams, can be used to organise visually one's thoughts or ideas while reading business books."

I have concluded in my review as follows: "Nevertheless, this book is still worth reading, especially if you want a deep understanding of why we are 'visual'. Also, David Hyerle's tools and ideas are still useful for the business reader, especially if one is pursuing business management studies e.g. MBA, in the evenings. The visual tools can be useful in that respect, particularly for probing understanding through the text, and taking/making personal notes."

In retrospect, the first book gives quite a good introduction to graphic organisers &/or visual tools, in addition to the 'Thinking Maps' technology. Tactically, it explains in quite elaborate details WHAT visual tools are, WHY we should use them, and HOW to get the most out of these tools.

The second book follows up with more quantified evidence to support their core technology, in addition to more practical applications as part of the educational curriculum.

The third book gives a panoramic view into many schools (sometimes, their promotional literature mentions 3,000 schools, others mention 2,000 schools, so I don't know which one is true & correct?) that have successfully used their core technology on a school-wide basis. In it, there is even one case study from Singapore.

In all the three books, the author shares many stories from teachers, principals, & trainers who have adopted their 'Thinking Maps' to increase student achievement & revitalize learning communities.

I reckon, for a first timer/beginner into visual thinking, especially one looking for applications within an eduational setting, the three books are definitely worth exploring.

Readers should also read Nancy Margulies' Mapping Innerspace, which adopts a spontaneous, free-form approach to using visual tools.

Though this book is out of print, the original retail price is around $24. If a seller is attempting to sell you this book for a much higher price, say $148, chances are that seller is taking advantage of the fact that this book is out of print and thus harder to find. This book is a valuable resource, but buyers should beware of rediculously high selling prices.

This book takes an extraordinary and practical look at graphic organizers. Graphic organizers are such a creative way to organize information in and out of the classroom. This book shows using these tools in multiple facets; very applicable, good reference.