Lesson: Creating Graphic Organizers

Representation: Creating Graphic Organizers

 

  Lesson Pages

 

 Sizing Up the Barrier 

Concepts, constructs, and ideas always exist in relationship with other concepts, constructs, and ideas. Whether one is dissecting a complex plot to start analysis in a literature course, exploring the process of conducting a laboratory experiment, comparing and contrasting theories of design, or simply trying to organize lecture notes, being able to see how ideas relate to one another in a visual, logical frame can be very helpful to facilitate recall, understanding, and analysis. There is likely little contention that graphic organizers are effective (one may consider how people benefit from such things as hierarchies, flow charts, plot graphs, Venn diagrams, concept maps, or visually structured notes, for example). Moreover, there is ample research supporting the effectiveness of graphic organizers to support higher-order thinking, especially in situations in which students experience high cognitive load (e.g. when trying to access complex new concepts) (Cleveland, 2014 Links to an external site.). In relation to cognitive load theory, students with disabilities have been shown to benefit significantly from graphic organizers in content area classes, as well (e.g. Knight, Spooner, Browder, Smith, & Wood, 2013 Links to an external site.; Singleton & Filce, 2015 Links to an external site.). However, recognition of benefit does not necessarily transfer to practical know-how related to instructors creating or having students create such graphic organizers, especially with digital media.

This lesson will address strategies for supporting students through the use of graphic organizers. Unlike most of the modules in this course, this module is quite explicitly a resource bank. The tools identified below are organized first by source (Microsoft Word, online tools) then the latter are organized by type of relationship being expressed in the graphic organizer (e.g. compare and contrast, hierarchy, progression, web...).

 

Methods

 

Microsoft Word (Office 365)

One of the most comprehensive graphic organizer tools available to all UTK students and staff is that of Microsoft Word. Word is an excellent place to make simple graphic organizers given the variety of options for relationships and the relative ease and familiarity of Word.

 

Screenshot of Microsoft Word showing the menu options for creating graphic organizers

 

There are numerous tutorials available on the web. Here are a couple.

Once a graphic has been made, users can then save the graphic as an image Links to an external site. file (.jpg, .png, etc) for uploading to Canvas (here's a quick screencast overviewing this process Links to an external site.). The final product may look something like this:
A simple graphic organizer showing a progression from "Design your graphic" to "Save as an image" and finally, "Upload and Insert on Canvas."

Web-based graphic organizer tools.

While Word is a great place to start for making graphic organizers, limitations in terms of space and options or the desire for online tools or tools that allow multiple users to collaborate on a graphic may push some users to seek web-based alternatives. This next section includes a curated list of web-based graphic design tools, organized by type. Some of these do have usage fees (monthly/annual). Each of these will work and is a good tool. Consider trying a few and deciding which works for you! (Note: not all tools mentioned are "officially" supported by OIT. For a full list of referenced tools in this course and indication of OIT support, please visit the "resources for implementation" page.)

 

Table 1. Examples of visual aid resources and brief descriptions thereof.
Resource Description
Bubbl.us Links to an external site. An easy to use mind-mapping site. It supports multi-user collaboration, image downloading, and live presentation modes.
Canva Links to an external site.

A simple, easy to use web tool for creating graphs, infographics, job aids, editing photos , and more. Includes video tutorials.

Coggle Links to an external site. A visually stunning online mind mapping tool that enables collaboration, image upload, and a presentation mode. One map is free.
Mindmeister Links to an external site. Similar to Bubbl.us and Coggle, a web-based mind-mapping site. It also supports real-time collaboration, image downloading and live presentation modes.
Wisemap Links to an external site. A free web-based mind-mapping tool that is quite simple to learn and use. It enables collaboration and finished maps can be exported as images or embedded directly into Canvas.
Prezi Links to an external site. A very powerful, very beautiful tool for presentations and graphic organization that includes powerful zoom in and out features. Though it is more robust, it is also more difficult to master than the others on this list. Educators may create a free account that includes unlimited prezis (up to 4GB storage quota) and can subscribe to discounted paid membership for more space and options.
SpiderScribe Links to an external site. A brainstorming/mind mapping tool. Users can add documents, images, maps, share with other collaborators.
Pixton Links to an external site. A simple, but powerful way to make "comics" with custom content. Use to make political cartoons, add interest to key concepts, etc. Or give students the option of using it for their own work!
Creately Links to an external site. Offers online mind mapping and collaboration.
Draw.io Links to an external site. Creates templates that can be collaborated upon in Google Docs. Dozens of templates for graphic organizers to choose from.

 


SOME SAMPLES

 

A sample Coggle mindmap. Shows a mind map based on "foodborne illnesses" connecting to major ideas as large branches and then on to more details via smaller branches.

(Made with Coggle) 

 Summary

Graphic organizers are a good way to visually represent text-based concepts. They can be used to present ideas in terms of relationship with other concepts (e.g. decision trees, flow charts, concept webs), as methods of brainstorming (e.g. mind maps), note taking, and conceptual analysis (e.g. venn diagrams). Knowing where to go to create and collaborate on graphic organizers is the first step. We encourage you to use these tools to create visual representation of concepts for their students. You may also consider assigning their students to make graphic organizers as a way of encouraging them to think about relationships, take notes, develop plans, or analyze information.