Jon C Price

US Patent:

55624600, Oct 8, 1996

Filed:

Nov 15, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/340731

Inventors:

Jon R. Price - Austin TX

International Classification:

G09B 1900

US Classification:

434433

Abstract:

A visual teaching aid (10) that allows educators to relate similarities and differences between differing topics and between subtopics within a single topic. The visual teaching aid includes a map (14) and a plurality of labels (16). Contained on the map (14) are a plurality of geographic features (18) such as continents, countries, states, cities, islands, oceans, seas, gulfs, harbors, rivers, lakes, islands, and peninsulas. These geographic features (18) appear as those on a normal map but are preferably not related to actual geographic features (18). Each label (16) associates with a particular geographic feature (18) and also describes an educational topic or subtopic. The labels (16) are logically arranged such that similar topics and subtopics reside in closer proximity to one another than do differing topics and subtopics. Also included with the present invention is a coordinate system (82) for locating geographic features (18) on the map (14). The coordinate system (82) includes horizontal (84) and vertical (88) grid lines that preferably creates a number of squares (92).