LEEP: Teachers Guide

Graphic Organizer
A graphic organizer, also known as knowledge map, concept map, story map,
cognitive organizer, advance organizer, or concept diagram, is a communication tool
that uses visual symbols to express knowledge, concepts, thoughts, or ideas, and the
relationships between them. The main purpose of a graphic organizer is to provide a
visual aid to facilitate learning and instruction.
Graphic Organizers take many forms:
a. Relational Organizers
storyboard
fishbone -- Ishikawa diagram
cause and effect web
chart
b. Category/Classification Organizers
concept mapping
KWL tables
mind mapping
c. Sequence Organizers
chain
ladder
cycle
d. Compare Contrast Organizers
dashboard
venn diagram
e. Concept Development Organizers
story web
word web
circle chart
flow chart
f. Option and Control Device Organizers
mechanical control panel
graphical user interface
According to study, the use of graphic organizers improves student performance in
the following areas:
Retention. Students remember information better and can better recall it when it is
represented and learned both visually and verbally.
Reading comprehension. The use of graphic organizers helps improving the
reading comprehension of students.
Student achievement. Students with and without learning disabilities improve
achievement across content areas and grade levels.
Thinking and learning skills; critical thinking. When students develop and use a
graphic organizer their higher order thinking and critical thinking skills are
enhanced

Source:
Education Place. Graphic Organizers. <http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/>
Teaching and Learning with Graphic Organizers. 31 May 2013 <http://
www.inspiration.com/visual-learning/graphic-organizers>
Wikipedia. Graphic Organizers. 31 May 31 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Graphic_organizer>