Visualizing Technical Information: A Cultural Critique (Baywood's Technical Communications) - Softcover

Koppelman, Kent L

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0895032171 ISBN 13: 9780895032171

Publisher: Routledge, 2003

Synopsis

Visualizing Technical Information: A Cultural Critique demonstrates the ways in which the leading technical visuals of information design-graphs, charts, diagrams, tables, illustrations, and information visualization-are designed and read. Using genre theory as an analytical tool, the author makes the argument that problems with these visual forms are not necessarily the result of a designer's poor decisions or a reader's poor interpretation skills. Instead, there may be inherent problems in the visual genres themselves that are a direct result of their cultural history and current use.

About this title

About the Author

Kent Koppelman grew up in rural Nebraska and attended the University of Nebraska where he received two degrees. He taught English and Social Studies in Nebraska, Connecticut, and Iowa. After receiving a Ph.D. from Iowa State University, he accepted a position at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. As a professor in the Educational Foundations Department, he developed and continues to teach a course called "Understanding Human Differences" which deals with issues related to gender, diversity, and multicultural education. This course has been adopted as one of the general education core requirements for the University. In 1988, he was named "Teacher Educator of the Year" for Wisconsin.

From the Inside Flap

"Values in the Key of Life is truly a remarkable book! Koppelman uses his skill as an excellent storyteller to touch the places deep within us that connect us with others. In its simplicity, this is a book of great wisdom. Its stories provide mirrors through which readers can see themselves, their neighbors and the possibility of using each day to build community. It's a very welcome book in a time when we so greatly need to talk about values, and so rarely do."
Christine Sleeter, California State University, Monterey Bay

"The quotations and anecdotes are thought provoking and memorable, and they have been selected from sources as diverse as the Bible, Voltaire, Chief Dan George, and Alice Walker. The essays tell real stories about real people to help explore issues related to each of the seven key values. Readers are asked to consider such fundamental questions as: 'What motivates people to help others?' 'Why should we value money and possessions?' 'Does a benevolent person help some but not others? Why is it so hard to forgive?' 'Do differences define us or divide us?' In exploring such questions the author addresses a wide range of issues including sexual violence, the use of Indian mascots, the persistence of homophobia, the separation of church and state, misrepresentations in the media, prejudiced perceptions of people with disabilities and the need for multicultural education."
As printed in the National Association for Multicultural Education Newsletter, Volume 5, Issue 1, 2003

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0895032171
• ISBN 13: 9780895032171
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 185