Visual Learning Techniques - Graphic Organizers, Mind Maps, and Flowcharts 

"Scaffolding keeps purpose and motivation in the forefront. Rather than offering up one more empty school ritual like the state report, the scaffolded lesson aspires to meaning and worth. Built around essential questions, the scaffolding helps to keep the "big picture" central and in focus. Traditional school research placed too much emphasis upon collection, while scaffolding requires continuous sorting and sifting as part of a "puzzling" process - the combining of new information with previous understandings to construct new ones. Students are adding on, extending, refining and elaborating. It is almost as if they are building a bridge from their preconceptions to a deeper, wiser, more astute view of whatever truth matters for the question or issue at hand." (MacKenzie, Jamie. From Now On: Educational Technology Journal. Vol 9, No 4, December, 1999).

Scaffolding Websites

• Using Graphic Organizers in Instruction -  - "Scaffolding can be accomplished in many ways, such as Socratic dialogue, coaching and Dewey's interactive concept of learning. Another common scaffolding technique is procedural facilitation, in which students are given prompts to encourage specific cognitive processes.  Graphic organizers provide students a prompt--a framework--for using information. Whether recognizing relationships, outlining processes, or identifying needed information, graphic organizers can provide the scaffolding needed to move a student from dependent to independent learner" (From http://www.richlandclicks.org/Teacher/presentations/scaffolding/kidspiration/activities.htm - link no longer available)

• NCREL - http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/students/learning/lr1scaf.htm 

• MyRead: Scaffolding Learning - http://www.myread.org/scaffolding.htm 

• Instructional Scaffolding. (Hartman, 2002) - http://condor.admin.ccny.cuny.edu/~group4/Lange/Lange%20Paper.doc 

Graphic Organizers and Flow Charts

Graphic organizers can be useful in brainstorming ideas, particularly in the task definition phase of research.  Graphic organizers also provide ways to help students organize the information and data conceptually.  Organizers can be helpful in viewing both qualitative (text) and quantitative (numbers) data graphically.  The assignments for this unit will focus on graphic organizers, flowcharts, and spreadsheet charts and graphs.  Inspiration is a popular software program for creating graphic organizers and flow charts but you can also recreate these types of documents using Word, Powerpoint, and other professional flow chart software programs.  A flow chart allows you to create visual representation of the sequence.  

What are Graphic Organizers?

•  A Visual Representation of Knowledge
• Way of Structuring Information into Organizational Patterns
• Way to Facilitate Pre-reading, Post-reading, Prewriting, Revising, Discussing, and Reasoning
• Way to Promote Active Learning
• Highly Effective Tool for Improving Social Interaction and Collaboration
• Provide a Framework for What is to be Learned
• Way to Access Student's Previous Experiences and Knowledge
• Way to Provide Scaffolding for Students Tapping Prior Knowledge
  • Semantic Map
  • Structured Overview
  • Web
  • Concept Map
  • Semantic Organizer
  • Story Map
  • Scaffolding

Theory Behind Use of Graphic Organizers

• Present what is essential and connect concepts when important information is isolated.
• File new information into an existing framework based on schema that already contains specific information about that concept. Retrieves prior knowledge and provides a framework on which to attach new knowledge.
• Visual graphic containing key ideas and information is easier to remember.
• Use of visual and verbal language to create graphic organizers promotes active learning. 
• Learner is engaged through listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking.

Four Basic Patterns of Knowledge Organization

Hierarchical

• Pattern includes a main concept with ranks, or levels, or subconcepts.
• Generalizations and Classifications

Conceptual

• Pattern includes a central idea, category, or class with supporting facts.
• Description, collection, problem/solution, and comparison/contrast.
• Venn diagram of two overlapping circles may be used to represent comparisons or contrasts.

Sequential

• Pattern arranges events in chronological order
• Linear - specific beginning and end
• Cause/effect
• Process/Product
• Problem/Solution

Cyclical

• Pattern includes series of events within a process in circular formation
• No beginning or end - Continuous sequence of events
• Information in a series, succession, cycle

Benefits of Graphic Organizers

• Focus attention on key elements
• Help integrate prior knowledge with new knowledge
• Enhance concept development
• Enrich reading, writing, and thinking
• Aid writing by supporting planning and revision
• Promote focused discussion
• Assist instructional planning
• Serve as assessment and evaluation tool

Browse through Graphic Organizers on the Web

• SCORE - http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/actbank/torganiz.htm 
• http://www.graphic.org/ 
• TeacherVision Printables - http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-6293.html 
• Education Place - http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/ 
• Write Design Online - http://www.writedesignonline.com/organizers/ 
• MCREL - http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/students/learning/lr1grorg.htm 
• 4 Blocks Literacy Framework - http://www.k111.k12.il.us/lafayette/fourblocks/graphic_organizers.htm 
• Inspiration in the Classroom - http://www.inspiration.com/productinfo/inspiration/using_insp/index.cfm 

Types of Graphic Organizers

The Venn Diagram is a conceptual organizer with overlapping circles representing information that is being compared and contrasted.
Hierarchical Organizer includes a main concept and the ranks, or levels, of sub-concepts under it (generalizations and classifications).
The Sequential Organizer arranges events in chronological order (process/product or problem/solution).
The Planning Organizer Great for thematic planning with integrated subjects or multiple intelligence planning.
The Cyclical Organizer includes a series of events within a process in a circular formation with no beginning and no end (a continuous sequence of events in a cycle).
The Cause and Effect Organizer - arranges cause and effect events in chronological order.
The Conceptual Organizer includes central ideas, categories, or classes with supporting facts such as characteristics or examples (description, collection, problem/solution, comparison/contrast).
The Overlapping Concepts Organizer - pattern includes a central idea, category, or class with supporting facts with overlapping areas used to represent information that is being compared and contrasted (overlapping areas of commonality).

Flow Charts 

Flow charts can be created in Word or Powerpoint.  It takes a little more effort than using a program like Inspiration, but it can be done.  See instructions in course documents.  Or - you can look into some of the software available for you and your students.

• Inspiration

• Microsoft Visio

• Smart Draw (graphic below)

Check out the Visual Thesaurus - http://www.visualthesaurus.com/online/index.html 

Using Powerpoint or Word to Create Graphic Organizers

Although Powerpoint is primarily a presentation program, it provides a great tool for creating overheads or student assignments with graphic organizers.  See the Powerpoint presentation with templates for graphic organizers that you can customize for your lesson planning.  Here are two examples of Powerpoint graphic organizers.  The Powerpoint is included in Unit Three course documents along with instructions on how to create graphic organizers and flow charts in Office applications.

Creating Graphic Organizers in Word 

You can create graphic organizers and flowcharts in a word processing program by using shapes and autoshapes.  You can add text to the shapes or add text boxes within the shapes.  

Tips for using a word processor for graphic organizers:

• Select object or shape and go to "format autoshape" on the top file menu bar (or right click in Windows for the format menu after selecting the object or shape.

• Use "add text" option OR add a text box within the shape.

• Adding text - try aligning left, right, or center 

• Select - "no fill" in the format shape menu.  The default is generally white - so click the dropdown box arrow and select "no fill."

• With text boxes, you will want to get rid of the line by selecting "no line" in the format menu.

• You also may have to select order to bring shapes forward or send them backwards.

Teaching with Technology - 2005

Carla Piper, Ed. D.

piper@chapman.edu