Creating a Graphic Organizer or Concept Map
Depending on what you would like to accomplish, there are different types
of graphic organizers that may be effective and different ways to produce
them. First consider whether you want to you want to develop a map without
student input, to develop a map working with students, or if you want
the students to generate a map on their own.
Whether working with the
teacher or in groups, collaborative mapping allows students with different
knowledge and ability levels to utilize each other's knowledge. Generally,
each member of the group should be able to contribute as long as they are
familiar with the material. As they examine relationships between concepts,
ideas, events, or people, students should be able to see if their understanding
is accurate. Obviously, one student may have a stronger grasp of one concept
or event while others may be able to fill in or contribute details
of a related concept or event. According to educational research, students
should be able to improve their own understanding or clarify misconceptions
by discussing and considering other students' comments.
If students are working with a specific topic in a text:
Have them read the passage and locate the main idea in each paragraph
or section.
Have them
locate the main idea or ideas and list the idea(s) on the blackboard, in
a Word document, or on paper.
Students should
then determine the type of graphic organizer they need.
For example:
A Descriptive or Thematic Map works well for mapping generic information,
or for mapping hierarchical relationships.
A Network Tree might be useful for organizing hierarchical
information or connecting superordinate or subordinate elements
A Spider Map might be effective when the information relating
to a main idea or theme does not fit into a hierarchy. This could also
be useful for showing characteristics and/or examples
Sequence of events or steps: Flow chart: .
A Problem and Solution Map contains information related
to cause and effect problems and solutions. You might also consider a flow
chart.
When cause-effect relationships are complex a Fishbone Map may be useful.
A Cycle Map is useful for organizing information that is
continuous.
Beginners might
want to parctice post-it notes or note cards so that they can be rearranged.
Students should
identify the key concepts. List them on post-it notes or note cards.
Rank the concept
words hierarchically
Arrange the concept
words according to hierarchy
and relationship
Link the concept
words by drawing lines showing the connections between them. Label
the lines with a word or phrase that explains the relationship. (Use straight
lines with arrows to link related terms. )
Each line should
link only two concepts. (There may be several links from any one term.)
Use a word or phrase
as a label to indicate the relationship between two connected terms.
Each line should
indicate the relationship between the two terms it connects.
(If an idea is related to
another idea on the map, a broken line might indicate that relationship.)
Review the map. Determine
if the relationships are clear and if other links are needed. Are there areas
that need explanation or development?