Module Two Reflection Questions
- How are graphic organizers and advance organizers similar? - Graphic organizers and advance organizers are both used as tools to display information.
- How are graphic organizers and advance organizers different? - Graphic organizers can be used at any stage in the learning process, and both students and teachers can create their own. Advance organizers are mostly just used by teachers to present information to provide a better understanding at the beginning of the learning process.
- How do each fit into Reigeluth's Elaboration Theory (1979)? Here is more information about this theory. -Reigeluth's Elaboration Theory stresses that the learner needs a solid understanding to build a sequence and more complex sequences should be added later. An advance organizer can be used to present new information to students. Once students understand the information in the advance organizer, and can apply that to other areas, students will be able to create their own graphic organizer. When students can successfully create their own graphic organizers it demonstrates learner control.
- How do teachers in the developmental/grade level and/or subject area you currently teach (or plan to teach) typically use graphic and advance organizers (consider Gagne's (1985) classification of learning outcomes discussed above)? - One effective graphic organizer used for history is the sequential graphic organizer. Sequential organizers can be used to present chronological events and information.
- In what ways can technology (and access to the Internet) make it easier for teachers to develop effective graphic and advance organizers? - Using technology, like Microsoft Word, to create graphic organizers make it easier for teacher because it allows the final product to look cleaner. The information in the graphic organizers is also easier to change and move around.
Example
Target Audience: 8th grade
Class: American History: Pre-Civil War
Description: Students should fill in the graphic organizer about major historical events leading up to the civil war. Each box should include the date, name of the event, and one sentence explaining the event.
This assignment would be given toward the end of the unit and should help students better understand chronological events leading up to the Civil War. I think this would classify as a graphic organizer, rather than an advanced organizer, since it would be given towards the end of an unit.
Class: American History: Pre-Civil War
Description: Students should fill in the graphic organizer about major historical events leading up to the civil war. Each box should include the date, name of the event, and one sentence explaining the event.
This assignment would be given toward the end of the unit and should help students better understand chronological events leading up to the Civil War. I think this would classify as a graphic organizer, rather than an advanced organizer, since it would be given towards the end of an unit.