Visualization Review

Overall this was an interesting process. I started out with an initial plan of trying to make an infographic.  I started researching what ways have been used before to represent the rock cycle in an infographic but I found that many of the examples were what I wanted to make.  I didn’t really want to redo what has already been done really well so I decided I wanted to change which visualization I would make.  I decided I would do a walk through narration of the process using a screen cast and Microsoft Powerpoint.  With this method, I could better describe the circular pattern the rock cycle goes through.  In the presentation, I start with a circular diagram to which I refer later in the presentation.  I move through the different steps of the rock cycle starting with the igneous process starting at the beginning, moving to erosion and sedimentary rock, followed by the metamorphic processes, and finishing back at the igneous rock, thus completing the cycle.  By using the presentation, I could loop back to various points in the cycle.

When I do presentations, I usually try to use graphics on my slides and talk during the presentation.  I find that this way, I can show examples of what I am talking about in my verbal presentation.  This kind of presentation would work better for a semi-knowledgeable or knowledgeable audiences who have the mental structures to accept and interpret the information being provided.  It might work well as a condensed review after introducing the students to the topic.  Students could even use this technique to help themselves review.  The process that was very helpful was actually creating the presentation its self.

I found that by struggling with finding images to match what I was reading was helpful in reviewing what I didn’t remember.  I would find a certain part of the rock cycle, say the igneous phase where rocks are created by magma slowing fast or slow, I needed to find a picture that would illustrate such a process.  Similarly, the sedimentary rocks were difficult to find images for because it is a long process that occurs over sometimes millions of years.  I found I could relate the time and phases better if I used a diagram with various time periods in the sedimentation process.  This same process could be completed by students with hand drawn pictures which could be done on computers and stitched together to make one long pattern of how they see the rock cycle occurring.

Through creating this visualization, I found that I knew the rock cycle better than I thought I did.  I used the online textbook cK-12 to review the rock cycle and a few other websites for images.  This source was very helpful in providing additional information that I had forgotten since I had this lesson in my freshman year of college.  I did find some things were reinforced by the project but overall, it served as a great review.