Permanent external representations in the form of drawings, maps, musical scores, figures, graphs, writing, numerals, hallmarks and signatures are part of our daily landscape and permeate most social activities almost from the moment we are born. This book is about humans appropriation, understanding and use of external representations.
The authors, all established researchers, present first hand research in the domain of notational knowledge. They reflect on the peculiar features and representational mechanisms of notational systems based on cultural conventions such as musical notation,...

The message of the book is straightforward and easy to apply: it derives from the interweaving of long years of field work with a solid theoretical background. The practice advocated presents children with the opportunity to confront contents and situations which are only too often considered inaccessible for them. The abundant examples presented show that when provided with an adequate toolkit composed of graphic texts, children are inherently motivated by the challenges surrounding them and can make the most out of them as valuable learning opportunities. Drawings, icons, photographs, maps...

The message of the book is straightforward and easy to apply: it derives from the interweaving of long years of field work with a solid theoretical background. The practice advocated presents children with the opportunity to confront contents and situations which are only too often considered inaccessible for them. The abundant examples presented show that when provided with an adequate toolkit composed of graphic texts, children are inherently motivated by the challenges surrounding them and can make the most out of them as valuable learning opportunities. Drawings, icons, photographs, maps...