This proposal will enable the principal investigator to determine the extent of scientific illustration techniques in non-illustration courses make a contribution to helping students and researchers develop their ability to see, record and understand the world around them. The United States faces a crisis in science and mathematics education. Although many causes have been suggested for the crisis, methods for instruction are high on most lists. The University of Arizona has developed highly innovative ways to helping students visualize scientific and mathematical concepts and to discover things for themselves. Visual methods are especially important in the biological sciences where concepts, structures and principles are often inherently visual. These changes improve the quality of all instruction and make it more assessable to those at a disadvantage with normal instructional methods.
