Information Literacy

• Visual tools for transforming information into knowledge, 2nd ed.,  by David Hyerle (Corwin Press, 2009, 167 p., $_____, ISBN: 9781412924269) We have reviewed a number of visulization and mind mapping books over the past three years with a very positive rating because there are so many potential benefits to thinking through visualization. The older generation, accustomed to the old outlining may be rather puzzled by the squiggles and messy drawings that supposedly represent thinking, yet the appeal to a different part of the brain – the combination of the logical and the creative extends learning in new directions. For teacher librarians who are not using such tools as Gliffy or Inspiration, this book is a good introduction to both the why and how of concept mapping. For those who have used the computer assists or just plain paper and pencil concept maps, this book is also a must read because it takes the simple visualization idea and pushes its possibilities from simple to high-level synthesis of complex concepts. The idea that those of us who are old outliners can’t do this visual stuff robs us of a significant tool is preposterous. Reading and studying the many examples and techniques in this book will provide a whole new world of possibilities. A must study.