TeacherTECH Webinar: Using Graphical Organizers to Encourage Critical Thinking

Elementary School, Middle School, High School, Community College and Adult Education Educators are invited to attend our new TeacherTECH Technology Tools Webinar Series focused on using graphical organizers in the classroom to encourage critical thinking. 

Thursday, December 9, 2010        

4:30pm- 6:00pm

Webinar via ReadyTalk (Webinar access requires an Internet and phone connection.)

Workshop Description - Creating Flowcharts Using Word and Inspiration to Extend Critical Thinking 

Electronic graphic organizers can help students organize ideas, convey complex concepts, progress through the steps of the writing process, and develop their mathematical and scientific thinking skills. Address different learning styles by presenting information in a visual format that shows the connections between concepts. Learn to create electronic graphic organizers using Word and Inspiration, both of which will be featured in this workshop, across the curriculum, throughout all grade levels.  Expand and enhance student thinking and learning for presentations and personal productivity.

Microsoft Word will enable the user to easily create simple flowcharts. Inspiration provides the user with a more sophisticated option in creating more advanced and interactive flowcharts.  After the webinar, the learner will be able to see which application is more suitable to this/her needs.

All workshop participants will receive a certificate of participation endorsed for professional development credit by the San Diego County Office of Education.

Use of Graphical Organizers in Classrooms and Similar Settings

"Graphic organizers have been applied across a range of curriculum subject areas. Although reading is by far the most well studied application, science, social studies, language arts, and math are additional content areas that are represented in the research base on graphic organizers." (Hall & Strangman, 2005)

Visual thinking can be expressed in many ways. Graphic organizers are one way for visual thinkers to arrange their ideas. There are unlimited ways to express these visual ideas. Graphic organizers have many names including visual maps, mind mapping, and visual organizers. Although many students plan with paper and pencil, technology tools can be very helpful because they allow easy editing.

Graphic organizers can be used in all phases of learning from brainstorming ideas to presenting findings. They can be used individually or in large groups. For example, some teachers like to create a class concept map as a large group to review at the end of a unit or develop a character map while reading a book aloud to the class. These tools are particularly useful in activities that require critical thinking skills.

Why Use Graphical Organizers in the Classroom?

Graphical Organizers convert complex and messy information collections into meaningful displays.

• They compress. 
• They focus. 
• They make interpretation, understanding and insight much easier.

Graphical Organizers help keep students plan their research forays.

• They guide the gathering. 
• They focus purpose. 
• They show what is gained. 
• They show what is still missing.

Ideas for Implementing Graphical Organizers

• Before a new learning situation to set the stage, address prior knowledge, develop background or essential learning and guide thinking.
• During a new learning situation to categorize and/or organize information, raise questions for consideration, predict solutions or conclusions;
• After a new learning situation, to confirm or reject prior knowledge, relate new information to what was already known, extend new learning to other situations ;
• With material already learned, a simple way to organize or outline learning or ideas;
• When developing a piece of writing, as an effective means to organize thoughts or ideas. 

 
Please join us for an exciting and informative session of hands-on learning presented by Roberto Del Busto, Sweetwater Unified School District.

Please feel free to share this announcement with others.

Registration is free. Space is limited. Please contact Ange Mason at 858-534-5064 or amason@ucsd.edu to reserve your space. Webinar dial in and web information will be sent to participants prior to the workshop. 

For more information on upcoming workshops, please see http://education.sdsc.edu/teachertech.