Knowledge Visualization And Its Application In English Teaching

Knowledge Visualization（KV）refers to the graphical means of representing knowledge.At present, specialized and systemic research in Knowledge Visualization has not been donein the domestic English teaching. As English teaching researchers, we are expected to exploreeffective teaching strategies and fully tap the potential application of KV.This paper begins with defining some relative terms, analyzing the essence of KVaccording to the research framework of KV in teaching field, reviewing research status aboutKV in and out of China and summarizing some domestic research work that needs to beimproved. Then, this paper analyses the framework of research in teaching field, and mainlyintroduces the method and function of some KV tools and their teaching applications. Anattempt is made to put forward the using principle of KV tools according to Tao Xingzhithought of using tools in education. Under the guidance of the research framework of KV, thepaper, based on some problems with English writing, designs a teaching model whichcontains flexible and comprehensive use of Mind Map, Concept Map and Thinking Mapswith the help of using principles of KV tools. This model mainly aims to improve students’writing competence, stimulate interest in learning and cultivate thinking ability. Mind Mapcan be used in topic deliberation, material selection in order to develop students’ thinkingability. Concept Map can be used to present hierarchical relationships between words, forthose students who are poor in language learning, teacher can use Concept Map to guide themto make sentences. Thinking maps, such as bubble map, double bubble map, tree map, aremainly used for vocabulary and grammar teaching for the sake of improvement of thestudents’ wording and sentence making in the process of writing. In addition, Thinking Mapscan also be used for planning, organization of the topic so as to improve the students’ layoutability. After this teaching model is put into practice through action research, the authoranalyses the teaching effect of the application of KV in the model by means of questionnaires, interviews and the analysis of student achievement. It’s found that the comprehensiveapplication of Mind Map, Concept Map and Thinking Maps can improve English writingcompetence in the process of topic deliberating, material selecting, sentence organizing andwriting planning, stimulate learning interest among students, and train students’ visualthinking as well. Finally, this paper summarizes some problems that exist in the process ofresearch and some teaching suggestions are put forward on how to improve teaching throughKnowledge Visualization.It’s hoped that the study will explore the related theories of Knowledge Visualization,and put the related theories into teaching practice so as to improve the students’ writingcompetence, stimulate their learning interest, and thus train their visual thinking.