Chapter 10: Graphic Organizers

How do you know that students understand a concept?

Teachers know when students understand a concept by students ability to take key information and place them in some type of graphic organizers.  Graphic organizers allow teachers and students to insert graphics, videos, audio, text, links, capture brainstorming ideas, create outlines, and organize the information (Morrison, G.R. & Lowther, D. L, 2010).  Students learn concepts through different types of learning methods.  There are four types of learning methods of students:  Active/Reflective, Sensing/Intuitive, Visual/Verbal, and Sequential/Global (Felder, R. M. & Soloman, B.A.,   Students learn through one or more methods.  It is important that the teacher allows lesson plans to be presentable to all learning methods of the students.  This will help students understand the concepts of the lesson.  A wonderful and informative article about the types of learning methods can be found by visiting the website:
http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSdir/styles.htm.  Teachers know that students have grasped concepts through discussions, assignments, and other activities in the classroom.  Students learning will be able to identify to the concept and be able to relate  to the knowledge.  Students understanding concepts will have those "aha moments" in the classroom when the information clicks for them.

How can you depict student misconceptions of key information?

Teachers can depict student misconceptions of key information by the graphic organizers they use in class.  It is important that teachers cover the concepts of the lesson when using technology or graphic organizers.  Teachers should allow students to participate in creating these graphic organizers and use of technology in order to see which students get it and who is not understanding.  Any time a teacher uses technology, feedback and discussion is a great way to end the lesson.  This identifies student misconceptions of key information.  It is important for teachers to use learning software that has an educational purpose and supports the ISTE Nets guidelines for students (Morrison, G.R. & Lowther, D.L., 2010).

How can students capture and transfer brainstorming ideas into written thoughts?

Students can capture and brainstorm ideas through the use of graphic organizers.  Graphic organizers allow students to record key information and organize it in a way to discuss the topic or write about the topic.  Many students using graphic organizers to brainstorm improve their education through various ways.  Graphic organizers allow students to collaborate on their ideas and thoughts.  By writing key information it allows students to evaluate their thoughts and ideas.

Sources:
Morrison, G.R. & Lowther, D.L.  Integrating Computer Technology into the Classroom: Skills for the 21st Century. (4th ed.)  Pearson: Boston, 2010.

Felder, R. M. & Soloman, B. A.  Learning Styles and Stategies.  Article Retrieved on 10 July 2011 http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSdir/styles.htm.