Organizers
How are graphic organizers and advance organizers similar? Graphic organizers and advance organizers are both used to display pertinent information in the learning setting.
How are graphic organizers and advance organizers different? Graphic organizers and advance organizers are different in why and when they are used in the learning process. Advance organizers are used at the beginning of a lesson to introduce new learning. Graphic organizers are used throughout the lesson to guide and enhance understandings of the new the material being covered.
How do each fit into Reigeluth's Elaboration Theory (1979)? Instruction should be organized in a manner that is easy to understand. Advance organizers should be used at the beginning of a lesson to introduce the lesson, its goals, and to activate/connect prior learning. Graphic organizers should be used throughout the lesson to keep thoughts, new learnings, and knowledge organized to assist in the development of making meaning of new learning and skills and to assist in gaining a thorough understanding of new learning.
How do teachers in the developmental/grade level and/or subject area you currently teach (or plan to teach) typically use graphic and advance organizers? Advance organizers are used daily in the forms of daily objectives, daily goals, and prior knowledge maps/ lists at the beginning of each class session to introduce the lesson for the day and to inform students of new learning goals and expectations. Graphic organizers are used throughout the day to enhance student learning and understanding. Graphic organizers often come in the forms of flow charts, t-charts, Venn diagrams, four-square models, cyclical charts, etc.
In what ways can technology (and access to the Internet) make it easier for teachers to develop effective graphic and advance organizers? Technology, specifically the Internet, allows teachers the opportunity to explore and learn about the implementation and effectiveness of various innovative organizers and how they can be utilized at each grade level and in each content area.
Sample Organizer
The sample organizer below would be used as an advance organizer, along with the state objectives listed on the board, to introduce a 4th Grade Math lesson on decimal place value. As an advance organizer, we would read the starting hexagon and discuss the question to ponder to activate prior knowledge. Some examples of prior knowledge have been added to the hexagon map to represent some student sample responses. As a class, we would record and discuss our prior knowledge responses together. Following the introduction of the lesson, the hexagon map would be used as a graphic organizer for the remainder of the lesson...as students would complete the remaining hexagons with new knowledge and examples as we progress through the lesson. The sample organizer provided has been extremely effective in my Math classes and deemed a class favorite amongst the kiddos!
The sample organizer below would be used as an advance organizer, along with the state objectives listed on the board, to introduce a 4th Grade Math lesson on decimal place value. As an advance organizer, we would read the starting hexagon and discuss the question to ponder to activate prior knowledge. Some examples of prior knowledge have been added to the hexagon map to represent some student sample responses. As a class, we would record and discuss our prior knowledge responses together. Following the introduction of the lesson, the hexagon map would be used as a graphic organizer for the remainder of the lesson...as students would complete the remaining hexagons with new knowledge and examples as we progress through the lesson. The sample organizer provided has been extremely effective in my Math classes and deemed a class favorite amongst the kiddos!
