Chapter 10 - Graphic Organizers

Graphic organizers facilitate both learning and assessment (Saskatoon Public Schools, 2004-2009).  By looking at a graphic organizer created by a student, it is as though one is looking into his/her mind.  Teachers and students can review the visual representations together and discuss how each idea is depicted and how it is linked to others.  If the student can explain his/her concept map and it accurately corresponds to the content being studied, then the teacher can be assured that the student understands the material. 

It is just as easy to interpret misconception from a graphic organizer, as it is to infer understanding.  When ideas are misrepresented and connections are inaccurately portrayed, the student most likely needs assistance with comprehension.  Teachers and students can use the organizer as a visual aid in their discussion.  They can each identify the specific areas where misconceptions have occurred.  The teacher can then redirect and guide the student's thinking by helping them to rearrange the map so that it correctly represents the content.

Many graphic organizer software programs have a built-in device that creates an outline from the diagram that the student constructs (Morrison & Lowther, 2010, p. 260-261).  By facilitating this process, the software helps students focus on using the outline to organize their writing.  They can also click back and forth between the two views in order to learn how to use their chart to create their own outline.

References

Morrison, G. R., & Lowther, D. L. (2010). Integrating computer
       technology into the classroom: skills for the 21st century.
       (4th ed.). Boston: Pearson.

Saskatoon Public Schools, Initials. (2004-2009). Instructional
       strategies online. Retrieved June 2, 2011 from
       http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/de/pd/instr/strats/graphicorganizers/index.html