Graphic+Organisers

 =Introduction= toc Graphic organisers are nothing new. They are an extension of the tools referred to in the @Thinking Tools section of this wiki. Graphic organisers can serve a number of purposes:
 * They help students organise and synthesise information from a number of sources.
 * They help students develop thinking skills and problem-solving skills.

As students become more proficient in the use of these tools, they should be encouraged to select from the full range rather than be instructed which one they should employ. Through this strategy, students will be able to demonstrate a higher level of cognitive awareness.

For each of the graphic organisers below, click the image to open a copy in Word format.

=5 Ws and an H Chart=

This tool is especially useful for breaking down complex events. It can be used to analyse historical events or news items very effectively.

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=AERO= AERO is similar to KWHL in many ways, but it engages a number of other thinking skills. The structure of the AREA chart consists of: Aside from research skills, it engages some of the @16 Habits of Mind, most notably @Gathering data through all senses, @Thinking flexibly and @Listening with understanding and empathy.
 * 1) **A**sking an expert
 * 2) **E**xperimenting and developing an experiment design
 * 3) **R**eading or viewing texts relating to your area of research
 * 4) **O**bserving using the senses



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=FOR Chart=

This tool is an extension of the Notemaker framework above and is designed to develop two key skills: The synthesis aspect of this framework comes when more than one text is used. Students would be required to locate **FACTS** and **OPINIONS** in the text before they are asked to **REFLECT** on how they respond to the useful of the text to their research and, more importantly, how the information in the text confirms or challenges what they have read in the other texts.
 * 1) The ability to discern fact from opinion.
 * 2) The ability to synthesise information.



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=KWHL= KWHL is a planning and research framework that guides students through the process of carrying out research. The acronym means:
 * K** - what do I **k**now?
 * W** - **w**hat do I want to learn?
 * H** - **h**ow will I find out what I want to learn?
 * L** - what did I **l**earn?

KWHL charts are especially useful in planning and carrying out small investigations. Scientific and mathematical experiments lend themselves to this approach as do social science investigations. This approach will work for larger scale projects, although the chart would need to work alongside other strategies. KWHL also requires students to use the @16 Habits of Mind to help students succeed, specifically @Applying past knowledge to new situations.



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=Notemaker= This is a basic notemaking tool for students. It is useful to students select important information and put into into simple point form. Also, it helps students record their sources so that referencing becomes an easier task.



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=Persuasion Map=

This tool is useful for formulating persuasive arguments. Click on the image for the landscape version, or click [|here] for the portrait version.



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=PMI= PMI charts are useful to encourage students to consider a number of aspects to a problem. PMI's are especially useful when students are asked to consider a specific proposal. For instance, students in a small community like Kalamunda might be asked to consider a hypothetical situation where a large restaurant chain wants to open a store in their area.



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=Story Map=

This story map will help students to get ideas together for a short story. Students should try to keep the elements of their story simple. Short stories, by convention, only have one or two major characters and they have only one major conflict or problem.



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=Structured Overview=

Structured overviews have a number of functions. Often they are used as a notemaking tool that encourages students to make notes under given headings. Structured overviews can become powerful **thinking** tools when they are used by students to organise and synthesise information from a number of sources. They force students to categorise the information, then to make notes under these categories.



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=Venn Diagram=

Venn Diagrams are logical thinking tools that help us to see the relationships between concepts. They help us to see what is unique about each concept and what is held in common between them. The sample below is for a 2 part Venn Diagram, but 3 or more elements diagrams are possible although more complicated.



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=Writing Blueprint= This tool will help students to organise ideas in preparation for an essay. It can be used to help students write paragraphs and it can be used to help them write entire essays.



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