The findings of this study suggest that science teachers take into account multiple
considerations when selecting and using graphics in the classroom, including course content,
type of visual, realism, learning styles, prior knowledge, and ability level. The results
indicate that researchers must broaden their focus when investigating visual representations.
Current studies in the literature concentrate on what features of illustrations best enhance
learning, how student characteristics play a role in comprehending visual displays, and how
different modalities interact to construct meaning (McLuckie et al., 2007). The findings of
this study indicate that in the quest to develop a set of principles for the design of graphics,
we must also consider how teachers make use of these visual displays in their teaching.
Design principles will not have much meaning unless they are studied in the context of the
classroom. In the future, research on how teachers make use of visual representations in the
science classroom should be expanded to encompass more typical school contexts.