"Integration of graphic organizers into the teaching and learning process is one of the most effective instructional strategies available to social studies teachers."
–– Dr Cantù
This chapter is focused on mental scaffolding, effectively blending the instructional phase of the teaching and learning process in order to establish a strong foundation of knowledge for students to build upon and to further develop their skill sets (Cantù, Chapter 4, Section 1). Seven learning theories and teaching strategies are listed and defined: experiential learning, direct instruction, social learning, problem-based learning, constructivist instruction, thematic instruction, and multiple intelligences. Section three gives twelve examples of strategies to extend student thinking. Next, there are a glossary and table of teaching strategies. Next in the chapter are listed thinking skills and reasoning processes that we as teachers are asked to learn and add to our pedagogy. The end of the chapter defines and discusses "habits of mind" and graphic organizers.
I am a visual learner; the graphic organizers that are shown are just the types of things that most helped me in school. Teachers just lecturing on, like the one in the video clip in the introduction, tend to lose me quick. Even if we are doing hands-on activities but I have not been given a visual representation and ordering of what we are doing I get lost. Thankfully for me and my students, according to the author, integration of graphic organizers into teaching and learning is one of the most effective instructional strategies! I plan to use them a lot! I found a useful thought in not only learning and teaching by way of graphic organizer, but also assessing and evaluating. In my novice class last week, my cooperating teacher had the students write out the vocabulary words and definitions, and then their partner drew a picture to represent the definition. I think this is brilliant. Why not have this as an option on tests as well. I could draw together multiple intelligences in test assessment if I offered several ways to complete a question: write an essay, outline key themes, or draw a picture to demonstrate understanding.
Big Question: How can educators who are not visual learners, or good with graphic organizers, grow in this area? As well, with so many learning theories and teaching strategies, how can I grow and implement those which I am weak in, or should I capitalize upon the few I am strong in?
This is not interactive, but an excellent resource for teachers. Downloadable graphic organizers!
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