It allows them to have visual clues of important ideas and concepts that can be recoded much easier than using rote memorization. I know for myself visualizations work much better than trying to recall some knowledge I learned in the past by just using my memory.
Shawnte,
This is a fun and unique way to get them to make application and store that application knowledge in their memories.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In my color class, my stdents are required to buy food color and duplicate the color wheel. It allows their memory to retain the primary, secondary and tertiary colors because they have created it themselves.
Bruce,
Yes they do and this is why I think they are so valuable. Thank you for these comments because I know they will be helpful to other instructors that are thinking about using them with their students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Graphic organizers demonstrate the relationship of new information and ideas. They provide structure, which is something I have always found helpful in my study endeavors to isolate and organize important information. I have always liked to use flowcharts to discover steps in a process and fishbone diagrams to discover possible causes and effects.
This is a tool that I am going to implement in my classes immediately. I this as a tool to grasp their attention, help them retain information, and combine it with some "scaffolding" notes with spaces left blank to have the students fill in during lecture & discussion. There is so much in the books and lecture that I will use these tools to isolate relevant information. I am very excited about using this tool.
Jeff,
They serve so many functions in the teaching learning process and this is another application that can be made. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The obvious answer is they can help isolate topics. I think they probably would be very helpful to ESL (English as a Second Language) students. Some word aren't translated very well but a picture is the same in every language.
Tommy,
Thank you for sharing your success with graphic organizers. They are such a simple yet valuable learning tool for our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Using graphic organizers in class applications enable students to have a visual understanding of whats being discussed. Some of the work sheets we do in class I have students come up and draw in the diagrams on the power point presentation. It gives them the visual and hands on demonstration of topic being discussed.
Tina,
Thank you for sharing this method of using graphic organizers. This method will work in so many other settings as well so I know this will be useful for instructors teaching in other fields.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
We use laminated graphic organizers in the dental hygiene clinic. It's an excellent way to cue the students and help them integrate the procedures in correct sequence. Using a single page graphic organizer and repetition eventually leads to mastery.
Patrick,
This is a good point in that many students do require a blend of delivery formats in order for them to internalize the key concepts. The more variety we can offer them the more engagement potential there will be.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Ii consistently use graphic information in my presentations as I cover math and drawing related information as part of my design topic.
Sometimes students relate to this information in that formate, but many require verbal reinforcement to have them assimilate the information.
Graphic organizers can help student learn and understand organizational structures, they can demonstrate how a process is put together from start to finish, and/or how to decode / analyze problems with a system.
Scott,
Many of my students lack organizational skills and your comments are right on in terms of the value that graphic organizers bring to them. Helps them to see how different concepts come together to create a solution to a problem or how each element contributes to the whole.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It takes out a bit of their lack of organization and creates a model. You're not 'adding to the mess' so to speak. Which makes the focus more on the content, with less distraction.
Visual learners will especially benefit just by having something to look at that they can relate directly to the material.
Ashley,
This has been my experience as well and that is why I use them in my courses. The get a visual picture of how the different components fit together so create the sum of what is being studied. I have found them very useful as study aids for the students so they can focus on the key elements.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think some people can really benefit off using graphic organizers it helps to show the important information/extra information off whatever the topic bubble is. Easy way to break the topic knowledge down.
