Module ID# 18
Type: training
Revised: 07/2007

Module Description - Instructional Outcomes - Instructional Events
Instructional Evaluation - Discussion List

MODULE DESCRIPTION:

A graphic organizer is a visual-spatial display of information connected in a meaningful way to help students organize information. Graphic organizers can be powerful tools to use prior to instruction, during instruction, and following instruction for summarizing and review. They are perhaps the most common way to help students generate visual representations of information and essentially make thinking visible and enhance the understanding of content. Graphic organizers combine the linguistic mode in that they use words and phrases, and the nonlinguistic mode in that they use symbols and arrows to represent relationships. These organizers help students to elaborate on their knowledge and consequently, help them to understand it in greater depth and recall information much more easily. Graphic organizers can be used to help students make connections between prior knowledge and current information or as a way to help introduce a new unit of information. Graphic organizers have are also called been referred to as advance organizers, semantic maps, webs, and flowcharts.

Graphic organizers assist teachers in presenting information logically, sequentially, and in an organized manner. Likewise, these visual representations assist students in organizing, sequencing, and retrieving information. There are many types of graphic organizers that can be used, however the teacher’s instructional objective will determine the most appropriate format(s) to use. Graphic organizers can be used before presenting new information to students, during the presentation of information, or after instruction in various ways. Students can also be taught to develop their own graphic organizers as organizational tools, note taking devices, and/or as a study aids.

This module will provide a basic course in designing and constructing graphic organizers for a variety of uses in practically any content area, as well as for use in general and special education classrooms at all grade levels.

Key topics highlighted in the module will include important reasons for using graphic organizers, types of graphic organizers, techniques, tips, and supports for constructing effective graphic organizers, different versions of graphic organizers along with ideas for adapting instruction including ways to use graphic organizers during different parts of the instructional process.

 

IPSB Instructional Proficiencies

Standard 4:  Performances #2, #4, #5
Standard 5:  Performances #1, #5, #6, #7, #8,
Standard 6:  Performances #1, #2, #3, #4, #8, #11
Standard 8:  Performances #1, #4

INSTRUCTIONAL OUTCOMES:

At the completion of this module the learner will be able to:

1. Locate one reference, web based or print, (see reference section) on graphic organizers and write a summary of the information.
2. Write an instructional objective that could be used for each of the 4 different types/formats of graphic organizers (hierarchical, sequence, compare/contrast, and charts, illustrations, diagrams, and pictures).
3. Discuss reasons for using 3 versions of a graphic organizer (complete, partial, and blank).
4. Develop a graphic organizer illustrating the content of this presentation on graphic organizers.
5. Use a graphic organizer while teaching a lesson in a classroom setting and summarize how you used it for teacher guided instruction, guided practice, independent practice and for measurement.

INSTRUCTIONAL EVENTS:

To complete this module, you will need to:

1. Study this module on graphic organizers,

2. Refer to other resources for additional information on the topics,

3. Complete the “tasks for completion” included in this module,

4. Read and report on two pieces of literature (web or other) related to the effective use of graphic organizers.

Task for Completion and Discussion

There are four “Task for Completion and Discussion” activities that you will be asked to respond to throughout this presentation.  These tasks will assist you by providing opportunities for deeper understanding, additional practice, and reflection on the content with others in your “discussion thread.”

Module Index:

1. Why Use Graphic Organizers? (Task for Completion and Discussion #1)
2. What Are Some Different Types of Graphic Organizers? (Task for Completion and Discussion #2)
3. Constructing Graphic Organizers (Task for Completion and Discussion #3)
4. Using Graphic Organizers (Task for Completion and Discussion #4)
5. References