This presentation provides important information about… * How graphic organizers make information more learnable * Why they are a LOT better than outlines

This presentation provides important information about…* How graphic organizers make information more learnable

* Why they are a LOT better than outlines

* Anatomy of a graphic organizer (how cues can be embedded into graphic organizers to make them even more effective

* 14 REALLY Big Ideas about Graphic Organizers

* Links to an extensive collection of examples of each type of graphic organizer

graphic organizers reduce

Information-processing demands

graphic organizers serve as

Elaboration catalysts

How graphic organizers make info more learnable

Learners must discern how new

content is organized

The most common ways to

organize information

More complex topics = harder to

discern organization

Hierarchic Cause/effect Comparison Sequence

If the organization is revealed at the lesson beginning

Then students don’t have to work as hard to understand it

Because the info processing demands have been reduced

You can teach at MORE sophisticated levels (as opposed to having to dumb-down the

curriculum)

Graphic organizers reduce


Click on pictures to view graphic organizer examples


Elaboration catalystsReduces information to the essential, relevant ideas

Shows relationships between ideas

Shows how information is organized

Reduces amount of language to be processed

Graphic organizers reduce




Elaboration catalystsReduces information to the essential, relevant ideas

Shows relationships between ideas

Shows how information is organized

Reduces amount of language to be processed





Elaboration catalysts



Elaboration is THE most powerful memory-enhancer of semantic info

Spontaneous exploration interrelated topics

grappling with the ideas may be ULTIMATELY MORE IMPORTANT than the information

noted on the think-sheet itself

Deciding which info is relevant & how to organize it

Recognizing the “depends on” factors

Grappling with ideas in unusual &

varied ways

Making connections to

existing beliefs, knowledge, &

experiences

Realizing there are other ways to organize the info


What about outlines? Aren’t they just as a good as graphic organizers?

The key is to make the ORGANIZATION of the information self-evident to the learner

Is the Organization of Information Visually Apparent?

Outline Graphic organizer

Type of information

Hierarchic Compare/contrast

Cause/effect

Linear sequence

Cycle

YES YES

NO YES

NO YES

YES YES

NO YES

Can you look at the information and see how it is organized?

What about outlines? Aren’t they just as a good as graphic organizers?

The key is to make the ORGANIZATION of the information self-evident to the learner

Outlines have a LOT of merit – Whole LOT better than nothing!

Just be selective about WHEN to use them - Effectiveness is limited to hierarchic & sequential information

So DO use them

6 Big Ideas about Graphic Organizers

Makes information easier to understand

Separates the important from the trivia

Focuses on big ideas

Organization of ideas is self-evident to students

Reduces information processing demands needed to understand new information

Greatly enhances student elaboration

© 2002 Edwin S. Ellis graphicorganizers.com

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Using graphic organizerswhen teaching content…

…allow you to teach information at MORE COMPLEX levels

instead of dumbing it down because kids didn’t get it”

© 2002 Edwin S. Ellis graphicorganizers.com

The power of graphic organizers comes from the nature and types of cues they provide

Anatomy of a

Graphic Organizer

Phenomena cues Strategy cues

Semantic cues

Organizational cues

Anatomy of a

Graphic Organizer

Semantic cues

visually shows info structure

Organizational cues


Cause / Effect

Hierarchic

Sequence

Compare / Contrast

to view samples, click on each type of organization

Anatomy of a

Graphic Organizer

Semantic cues

focuses on meaning


Organizational cues


Structural Cues

Generative characteristics of an idea Generative “BIG” ideas

Perspectives on an idea Topic-specific

critical understandingsPerson

Group Place Issue Event Policy War Theory Process Belief Problem Invention Thing

to view samples, click on each type of semantic cue

Anatomy of a

Graphic Organizer

Semantic cues

focuses on meaning


Organizational cues

Phenomena cues Strategy cuesvisually shows patterns of

phenomena

Chaos/control

Yin*Yang

Problem solving

Data bending

Risk Taking

Tension / Reaction

to view samples, click on each type of phenomena

Anatomy of a

Graphic Organizer

Semantic cues

focuses on meaning


Organizational cues

Phenomena cues Strategy cuesvisually shows patterns of

phenomenastrategic processes

Project-based learning

Strategic Reading

Strategic Writingto view samples, click on each type of strategy cue

Anatomy of a

Graphic Organizer

Semantic cues

focuses on meaning visually shows info

structure

Organizational cues

Phenomena cuesvisually shows patterns of

phenomena

Strategy cues

TM

Cause / Effect

Hierarchic Compare / Contrast

Sequence

Chaos/control

Data bending

Tension / Reaction

Problem solving

ConflictEvolution

strategic processes

Strategic Writing

Project-based learning

Strategic Reading

Structural Cues

Generative characteristics of an idea Generative “BIG” ideas

Perspectives on an idea Topic-specific

critical understandings

Anatomy of a

Graphic Organizer

More Big Ideas about Graphic Organizers

7. Very strong research-basis for:

ACADEMICS Vocabulary Reading

Writing Content Math

THINKING

Critical Analytical Metacognition / Strategic

INFORMATION PROCESSINGFind relevant infoMake sense of infoRelational understanding and memory

of infoCommunicate info

EXAMPLE

8. Fosters “watering-up” the curriculum – -content is more learnable, so info can be taught at more complex levels– Makes the organization of information self-

evident to learner

Provides an array of visual & semantic cues that help the learner focus on what is important

– Focuses on relational understanding, big ideas, & real-world connections

– Maximizes student-elaboration of essential-to-understand information

EXAMPLE

EXAMPLE


9. Requires scaffoldingScaffolded assistance

• I do it• We do it• Y’all do it• You do it

Scaffolding complexity of the graphic organizer • simple to complex

EXAMPLE


10. Highly conducive to implementing critical teaching behaviors for student engagement Knowledge activation & anticipation

Frequency of correct responses

Explicit /Directive Implicit/Constructive

Quality student-directed learning experiences aligned with state curriculum standards

Reflective reviews

EXAMPLE

EXAMPLE


11. Facilitates “standards-based” instruction & assessment

Planning instruction around state curriculum content standards

Assessing students relational understanding of content standards

EXAMPLE


12. Highly conducive to innovation Integrating curriculum

Block-scheduling

Project-based, Problem-based, and Service-oriented learning

Differentiating instruction in ways that really count


13. Impact is NOT a function of whether a student is a “visual learner” Notion of visual vs. auditory vs.

kinesthetic learner is a GROSS over-simplification of the learning process

Student success using GOs is more a function of:

• Previous exposure to GOs• Quality of teacher-scaffolding• Complexity of subject-matter vs.

student’s background knowledge of subject-matter

• Teacher’s commitment to use GOs


14. Implementation is not automatic GOs are initiative for some, not at all for others

Requires …

* Leader supportFosters faculty ownership & commitment

paired with explicit expectationCreates time (and tenaciously protects) so

teachers can collaboratively plan and peer-supportReinforcement (formal & informal)

* Long-range view* Strategic implementation plans* Coaching * Data-based feedback on (1) student outcomes and (2) quality of implementation

EXAMPLE

EXAMPLE

EXAMPLE


TM

© 2007 www.MakesSenseStrategies.com P.O. Box 267 Lillian, Al 36549 (251) 961-2407

Hierarchic

Cause / Effect

Compare / Contrast

Sequence

Primary

Intermediate

Middle school

High School

GRADE-LEVEL Samples organized by…

Social studies

Science

Math

SUBJECT-AREA Samples organized by…

SMARTsheets

GOsheets

TYPES of Makes Sense tools Samples organized by…

STRATEGYsheets

Process Writing

Samples by teachers & students

Documents

This presentation provides important information about… * How graphic organizers make information more learnable * Why they are a LOT better than outlines