Contents  Graphic organisers - Defined3  Graphic organisers - Advantages4  Graphic organisers - Uses5  Graphic organisers - Application6  Choices - (depend on the task)  Task A – Classifying 8  Task B – Processes, Sequences, Prioritising 12  Task C – Comparing and Contrasting 19  Task D – Cause and Effect 26  Task E – Evaluating or Predicting 31

Graphic organisers defined Graphic organisers are:  a pictorial way of constructing knowledge  a pictorial way of organising information  a pictorial way of converting disjointed information into a simple-to-read display  a completed graphic organiser conveys complex information in an easy to understand manner

Graphic organisers - advantages Using graphic organisers ensures:  an increased understanding of the topic  an understanding of the relationships between items  an understanding of the meaning of each item  that the most important parts of the information are prioritized  that new ideas are generated  that student thinking skills are developed

Graphic organisers - uses Graphic organisers can be used:  to help analyse and synthesize information  to structure written assignments  to help in problem solving  to assist in decision making  to assist in planning research  when brainstorming ideas  to illustrate prior knowledge on the subject  to categorise information  to gather and record information  to show the students’ thinking Can be used in any subject in the curriculum

Graphic organisers - application Graphic organisers can be applied:  at the beginning of a unit of work e.g. for brainstorming prior knowledge  at the end of a unit of work e.g. a self assessment rubic  to describe a phenomenon  to classify or categorise a phenomena  to compare & contrast facts  to sequence or order ideas  to show causal links between ideas, information  to evaluate and predict

Graphic organisers - choice  The tasks or thinking skills required determines the type of graphic organiser to be used  The following slides give examples of common graphic organisers according to the task involved

Classifying, recalling, brainstorming use Webs  Questions  What is the central idea?  What are the qualities/attributes?  What are its functions?  Choices  1. Star, 2. Spider, 3. Cloud/cluster Task A

Webs - star Star Use when investigating attributes associated with a single topic, concept or theme

Webs - spider Spider Use when investigating attributes associated with a single topic. This is like a star organiser but with one more level of detail.

Webs - clouds Clouds Use when the topic involves generating ideas, e.g. brainstorming.

Task B  Questions  What happened?  What is the sequence of events?  What are the substages?  Choices 1. Series of events chain, 2. Cycle, 3. Flow chart To show processes, sequences, prioritizing use chains, cycles and flow charts.

1. Chain of events  Series of events chain  Use to describe the stages of something e.g. the life cycle of an insect, a sequence of historical events  Questions  What is the first event?  What are the stages or steps?  How do they lead to one another?  What is the final outcome?

 Series of events chain diagram 1. Chain of events

 Cycle of events  Use if the topic involves a recurring cycle of events, with no beginning and no end e.g. life cycles  Questions  What are the critical events in the cycle?  How are they related?  In what ways are they self-reinforcing? 2. Cycle of events

 Cycle of events diagram

3. Flow chart / sequencing  Flow Chart  Use to describe discrete step, or steps that must be completed in order  Questions  What happened?  What is the sequence of events?  What are the substages?

2. Flow chart / sequencing  Flow chart diagram

Task C  Questions  What are the things being compared?  How are they similar?  How are they different?  Choices 1. Venn Diagram 2. T Chart 3. Compare & contrast matrix To compare and contrast information.

1. Venn Diagram  Venn Diagram  Use to analyze similarities and differences between two things by placing individual characteristics in either the left or right sections, and common characteristics in the overlapping section  Questions  What are the two things being compared?  How are they similar?  How are they different?

1. Venn diagram  Venn diagram example

2. T-chart  T-Chart  Use when analyzing or comparing two aspects of a topic. e.g. Fill out a T-Chart to evaluated the pros and cons associated with a decision  Questions  What are the two things being compared?  How are they similar?  How are they different?

2. T-chart  T-chart example

3. Compare & contrast matrix  Matrix or data chart  Use to show differences and similarities between two things eg people, places, events, ideas  Questions  What are the two things being compared?  How are they similar?  How are they different?

3. Compare & contrast matrix  Matrix diagram example

Task D To show cause and effect  Questions  What are the causes and effects of this event?  What might happen next?  Choices  1. Fishbone  2. Cause/effect chain of events  3.Multiple causes map

1. Webs - fishbone  Fishbone  Used when investigating cause and effect factors associated with a complex event or phenomenon.  Questions:  What are the causes and effects of this event  What might happen next  What are the factors that cause X?  How do they relate?

1. Webs - fishbone  Fishbone example eg: analysing an election, juvenile delinquency

2. Cause and effect chain  Cause and effect chain example One event causes another, which triggers another like a domino effect.

3. Multiple causes map  Multiple causes map example

Task E To evaluate or predict  KWLH  K = what we know  W = what we want to find out  L = what we learned  H = how can we learn more  Use to help students activate prior knowledge.  Use a KWHL chart before, during, and after reading about a topic

Evaluate/predict  KWHL diagram

Graphic organisers across the curriculum  Graphic organisers can be used to reinforce topics from any subject. Use the examples in this presentation in:  Maths – e.g. Venn diagrams, slide 21  Science – e.g. Flow charts, slide 18  Literature – e.g. Story boards, slide 34 (next slide)  History – e.g. Cycle of events, slide 17  Better still - create your own organiser!

Storyboards  A graphic look at literature

References  Enchanted Learners.com, Graphic Organizers, viewed 11 th June, 2008,  Graphic Organizers, Education Place, viewed 11 th June, 2008,  Murcoch, K & Wilson, J, (2004), Learning Links, Strategic teaching for the learner-centred classroom, Curriculum Corp, Melbourne.  P.L. Duffy Resource Centre 2006, Trinity College, viewed 12 th June, 2008, ganisers ganisers  The Graphic Organiser, Graphic.org, Viewed 12 th June, 2008,  Thinking Toolbox: Graphic organisers, 2008, Larapinta Primary School, viewed 12 th June 2008,  Write Design Online Graphic Organizers, viewed 10 th June, 2008,