Computer-Based Study Strategies are tools and techniques that are enhance the use of technology. This site is built on the belief that all students deserve access to modern technology and that all teachers must be well-versed in teaching students to use the computer as a "cognitive partner.
Graphic organizers provide support for metacognition which this ERIC Digest describes as thinking about thinking, knowing "what we know" and "what we don't know." Foundation research is cited.
This North Central Regional Educational Laboratory site has images of graphic organizers that are good examples and that can be copied and pasted into other software for use.
Graphic organizers come in many types and have been widely researched for their effectiveness in improving learning outcomes for students with and without disabilities. This paper examines the research on educational applications of graphic organizers in grades K-12 and explores points of intersection with Universal Design for Learning, a curriculum design approach intended to lower the barriers that traditionally limit access to information and learning for many students.
When words bring confusion instead of clarity, it's time to try visual communication. Explore the how and why of linear strings, hierarchy diagrams, flowcharts, comparison matrices, and all kinds of maps--spider, concept, fishbone--to name just a few! Articles describe using graphic organizers with students in science class. You'll also find resources from ENC's collection and links to software that will help you and your students create graphic organizers on the computer.
Increase student learning with these interactive, online tools designed to promote higher level thinking in any subject. Each tool features an online workspace where students create and save visual representations of their thinking. Classroom strategies and teacher-tested project ideas suitable for K-12 classrooms will help you get started.
The ERIC Digest discusses research related to organized knowledge that is accessed during reading. The richer the schema is for a given topic the better a reader will understand the topic. Pre-reading strategies, such as the use of graphic organizers, concept maps and thematic organizers, can help students relate new information from reading to their existing knowledge.
The Teacher Activity Bank at SCORE (Schools of California Online Resources for Education Aligned to the California Content Standards) has more great examples.
