What graphic organizer is used if the task involves examining the similarities and differences between two or three items?

Graphic Organizers are visual displays that depict the relationships between facts, terms, and/or ideas within a learning task. They are referred to as knowledge maps, concept maps, story maps, cognitive organizers, advanced organizers, thinking maps, or concept diagrams.

*Internet Sites that have tons of printable graphic organizers for any subject area, these websites also have research to back up the use of graphic organizers and how important they are to student learning, and how they improve student learning. It is pretty evident that the visual learner will really benifit from the use of a graphic organizer, they are made for the visual learners.*

http://www.edhelper.com

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/graphic-organizers/printables/6293.html

http://www.graphic.org

http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/

http://search.enchantedlearning.com/cgi-bin/uncgi/search?key=graphic+organizers

-Dr. Joseph D. Novak, of Cornell University developed the idea of graphic organizers in 1960. Novak's discoveries were based on the theories of David ausubel and the importantance of prior knowledge as the key to learning new concepts. (http://www.graphic.org/links.html)

Graphic Organizers can be used in any subject. They can be used to help a student organize their thoughts while writing, they can be used to compare events in history, they can be used to reseach a subject in science, and they can be used to comprehend what you are reading. Many websites already have lessons made up for a teacher to use that incoperate graphic organizers. Here is a website that you can see many examples of how to use graphic organizers across the curriculum (http://www.edhelperclipart.com/clipart/teachers/org-howtouse.pdf).

Here are some links to sample lesson plans and how to use the graphic organizers

http://www.edhelper.com/teachers/Storytelling_graphic_organizers.htm--this website can be used to help students write about various topics, there aren't lesson plans with these graphic organizers but they are pretty self explanitory.

There are many different types of graphic organizers. Here is a list of some of them and how they are best used:

The task at hand determines the type of graphic organizer that is appropriate. The following is a list of common graphic organizers - choose the format that best fits your topic.

Star: If the topic involves investigating attributes associated with a single topic, use a star diagram as your graphic organizer. Example: Finding methods that help your study skills (like taking notes, reading, doing homework, memorizing, etc.).

Spider: If the topic involves investigating attributes associated with a single topic, and then obtaining more details on each of these ideas, use a spider diagram as your graphic organizer. This is like the star graphic organizer with one more level of detail. Example: Finding methods that help your study skills (like taking notes, reading, memorizing, etc.), and investigating the factors involved in performing each of the methods.

Fishbone: If the topic involves investigating multiple cause-and-effect factors associated with a complex topic and how they inter-relate, use a fishbone diagram as your graphic organizer. Example: Examining the effects of improved farming methods.

Cloud/Cluster: If the topic involves generating a web of ideas based on a stimulus topic, use a clustering diagram as your graphic organizer. Example: brainstorming.

Tree: If the topic involves a chain of events with a beginning and with multiple outcomes at each node (like a family tree), use a tree as your graphic organizer. Example: Displaying the probabilistic results of tossing coins.

Chain of Events: If the topic involves a linear chain of events, with a definite beginning, middle, and end, use a chain of events graphic organizer. Example: Analyzing the plot of a story.

Continuum/Timeline: If the topic has definite beginning and ending points, and a number of divisions or sequences in between, use a continuum/timeline. Example: Displaying milestones in a person's life.

Clock: If the topic involves a clock-like cycle, use a clock graphic organizer. Example topic: Recording the events in a typical school day or making a story clock to summarize a story.

Cycle of Events: If the topic involves a recurring cycle of events, with no beginning and no end, use a cyclic graphic organizer. Example topic: Documenting the stages in the lifecycle of an animal.

Flowchart: If the topic involves a chain of instructions to follow, with a beginning and multiple possible outcomes at some node, with rules at some nodes, use a flowchart. Example: Computer programmers sometimes use flowcharts to organize the algorithm before writing a program.

Venn Diagram: If the task involves examining the similarities and differences between two or three items, use a Venn diagram. Example: Examining the similarities and differences between fish and whales, or comparing a book and the accompanying movie.

Chart/Matrix Diagram: If the task involves condensing and organizing data about traits of many items, use a chart/matrix. Example: Creating a display of key inventions, who invented them, when, where and why they were invented, etc.

Y-Chart Diagram: If the task involves analyzing and organizing with respect to three qualities, use a Y-Chart. Example: Fill out a Y-Chart to describe what you know about an animal, including what it looks like, what it sounds like, and what it feels like. Or describe a character in a book, including what the charater looks like, sounds like, and how the charater feels.

T-Chart Diagram: If the task involves analyzing or comparing with two aspects of the topic, use a T-Chart. Example: Fill out a T-Chart to evaluate the pros and cons associated with a decision.

Fact/Opinion: If the task involves distinguishing the facts vs. the opinions in a theme or text, use fact/opinion charts. Example: Fill out a fact/opinion chart to evaluate the facts and opinions presented in a news article.

PMI Diagram: If the task involves analyzing the plusses, minuses, and implicatios of a decision or an action, use a PMI Chart. Example: Fill out a PMI Chart to help evaluate the positive, negative and interesting points associated with taking a new job.

Decision Making Diagrams: If the task is making a decision, use a graphic organizer to enumerate possible alternatives and the pros and cons of each. Example: Fill out a desicion making diagram to help decide which elective courses you'd like to take next quarter.

Semantic Feature Analysis Charts: If the task is comparing characteristics among a group of items, use Semantic Feature Analysis . Example: Fill out a Semantic Feature Analysis chart to compare and contrast the care needed for various pets.

Cause and Effect Diagrams: If the task is examining possible causes and effects in a process, use a cause and effect graphic organizer . Example: Fill out a cause-and-effect diagram to trace the steps in a feedback loop..

KWHL Diagram: If the task involves analyzing and organizing what you know and what you want to learn about a topic, use a KWHL chart. K stands for what you already KNOW about the subject. W stands for what you WANT to learn. H stands for figuring out HOW you can learn more about the topic. L stands for what you LEARN as you read. Example: Fill out a KWHL chart before, during, and after you read about a topic.

Pie Charts: If the task involves showing divisions with a group, use a pie chart. Example: Draw a pie chart to show what percentages of a population have blue eyes, green eyes, or brown eyes.

Vocabulary Map: Graphic organizers can be useful in helping a student learn new vocabulary words, having them list the word, its part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.), a synonym, an antonym, a drawing that represents the word, and a sentence using the word.

Paragraph Structure: These graphic organizers help you organize the structure of a paragraph, including a topic sentence, sentences with support details, and a conclusion sentence.

5 W's Diagram: If the task involves analyzing the Five W's (Who, When, Where, What, and Why) of a story or event. Example: Fill out a 5 W's Chart to help evaluate and understand the major points of a newspaper story.

Story Map: Story maps can help a student summarize, analyze and understand a story or event.

Character Traits: Graphic organizers help the student identify the traits of fictional characters by looking at events surrounding the character in the text.

Biography Diagrams Graphic organizers are useful to help prepare for writing a biography. Before writing, the graphic organizer prompts the student to think about and list the major events in the person's life.

Animal Report Diagrams: Many graphic organizers are useful to help prepare for writing a report on animals. Before writing, the student should think about and list the major topics that will be researched and covered in the report.

Geography Report Diagrams: These graphic organizers are useful to for doings a short report on a country or other area. The student draws a map and flag, and looks up basic information on the area.

Math Diagrams: Many graphic organizers are useful to learn and do math, include Venn diagrams, star diagrams, charts, flowcharts, trees, etc.

Scientific Method Diagrams: Graphic organizers used to prepare and organize a scientific experiment.

Beth P:

Research has found that visual learning techniques has improved student learning and performances in many areas. A guide to research data citing learning improvement can be found at: http://www.inspiration.com/vlearning/research/index.cfm

I love graphic organizers and there are a ton of them out there. Thanks for all the sample ones above.

Laura, it's nice to have all these resources in one spot - Good Work and THANK YOU! - N.Oerter

Laura, I had no idea how many types of graphic organizers there were! Nice job of displaying the variety. Your wiki was very easy to read. It was enjoyable to see your clean organization. How often do you use graphic organizers in your teaching? - Nancy H.

Nancy, I use graphic organizers daily in my special education classroom. I do a lot of writing with my students and we use graphic organizers to help the students get thier thoughts down. I have also used them for math, and helping to students in science and social studies to help my students understand a concept that they may be struggling with or if they are just not sure of. Laura Mark