Creating Physical Representations

One method of engaging students in their learning occurs through asking them to create graphic representations of ideas/problems. Introduce the idea by creating a graph with the class (intentional role modeling), then give them an individual or paired assignment to create their own graph. This technique is also useful for developing reflective habits, a key component of deliberate practice.

Type	Useful for	Example
Decision Trees	Examining how different approaches lead to different conclusions
Venn Diagrams	Exploring points of similarity and difference Exploring how things overlap/influence
Fishbone Diagrams	Exploring root causes

Free graphic organizers a large selection of printable templates
Free printable templates this site has Venn Diagrams, Fishbone templates, Cycle diagrams etc.
Exploratree this free tool has a variety of online thinking graphs such as identifying supporting evidence and exploring ideas from different perspectives.
MedMaps is a free tool for creating and sharing illness scripts based on a signs and syptoms, characteristics, differential, complications, management formula.
Bubbl.us is a free online brainstorming tool
MindMeister is an online, collaborative mindmapping tool
The CmapTools program empowers users to construct, navigate, share and criticize knowledge models represented as concept maps. This is the most sophisticated of the tools listed and therefore requires more time to learn.


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