By There are many ways to optimize your study. Here are the most visual ones: maps, diagrams, flowcharts, and other kinds of organizers.
Graphic organizers are an excellent tool for people who have a visual learning style. They also allow you to structure concepts and establish relationships between them, so they can be used in different contexts.
There are a wide variety of schemes out there, so it’s only natural that you’re wondering which one is best for your purposes. Here you’ll find the most common types and we’ll explain how to make the most of them. Don’t miss out on anything, because we’re getting started.
What are graphic organizers?
Graphic organizers are visual representations of knowledge. They are used to express important aspects, such as related concepts or parts of knowledge that need to be explained. In this way, information is made available in a visual way, without neglecting the text.
The greatest benefit they have for the study and presentation of information is that they can be collected and organized. This makes it easier to manage this knowledge by comparing, contrasting and interrelating the different parts of the organizer.
Another benefit is that you can see the whole structure in one glance. In this way, the amount of knowledge that you can cover in one glance is much greater than if you were to write it down, for example.
What types of graphic organizers exist?
If you want to start using this type of graphics, it is valuable to first know the most commonly used ones and then choose the one that best fits your needs.
1. Bar chart
The classic graph where quantitative data is represented with bars within the Cartesian axes. Very useful for comparing quantities or statistical correlations.
2. Conceptual map
Another of the most used in the field of education. It is a type of organizer in which different concepts are related to cover the entire system. It is very versatile, as it can be represented according to the creator’s taste and can be later related to written or oral content .
3. Ishikawa diagram
Due to the shape it takes when represented, the Ishikawa diagram is also known as a fishtail diagram. It is very useful for analyzing cause-effect relationships, as a line is drawn that leads to the event in question. Other lines extend along it that depict the possible factors that led to that event.
4. Synoptic table
It consists of a system of keys that breaks down, in the form of a root, general concepts into their most concrete parts. It can be used from right to left, from top to bottom or even in the form of a table, depending on the taste of the person who creates it.
5. Semantic map
Their greatest use is to organize the information contained in a text. They are similar to synoptic tables and conceptual maps, with the small difference that they start from the central idea of the text and branch out that information. Texts or prepositions are not placed in the links between concepts.
6. Timeline
It allows you to organize sequences of events, so that the temporal relationship between them is clearly understood. It is very useful for visualizing the duration of these events and their frequency within the same period, which makes it effective for analyzing problems in the workplace and in the school environment.
7. Flowchart
This graphic organizer can be used to represent the steps of a process. In addition to easily expressing a large amount of information, it is very useful for giving instructions that anyone can understand. They are often used in algorithms and are considered suitable for computer science.
8. Venn Diagram
Another of the best-known graphic organizers, consisting of several overlapping circles. It is very useful for studying how concepts are related to each other, since the intersections include common points and the remaining area includes exclusive characteristics.
9. Organizational chart
An organizational chart is one of the best ways to visually represent a hierarchy. You’ll find them, above all, in the workplace to know who to turn to in case you need help. They are also useful for establishing priorities in the order in which tasks are carried out.
10. Gantt chart
Very useful for representing the progress of a project or the overlapping of different events over time, as it is a graph where the different concepts are represented on a timeline, with their duration in units. The Gantt chart allows you to precisely organize the tasks or events that need to be completed within specific deadlines.
11. SWOT Matrix
The SWOT matrix is a table of 4 boxes that lists weaknesses, threats, strengths and opportunities (hence the acronym). It is widely used in the field of personal growth and work psychology, as it helps to analyze in detail all the factors that play for and against a person’s success.
This graphic organizer is useful in decision making.
12. Spider web
The spider web is a form of graphic representation that takes its name from the way its concepts are organized, branching out from the main one, which is placed in the center. It is based on the tendency we have to return the focus of attention to the element that is in the center of an image. In this way, it is possible to branch out concepts and details without losing sight of what matters most.
13. Gowin’s V
This graphic organizer is often used in education, to reflect on a topic through questions and answers. A V is drawn and, on both sides, questions that the person asks about the topic are written. The main question is written in the center and then all the others are ranked based on it.
14. Chain of sequences
This is a circular diagram that represents a cyclical process with all its parts. It is often used for biological processes or to describe problems that never end (in psychological consultations, for example). It allows you to clearly visualize how each element follows one another until returning to the initial one.
15. Circular diagram
The classic circle of “cheese.” It is one of the best ways to understand what elements make up any concept by showing what proportion of it they represent.
16. Character map
Although this is not a very versatile graphic organizer, it is very effective in educational settings when a real or fictional character needs to be characterized. Personality attributes branch out around the image of the character, and details can be added below.
17. Mind Fact
Mind maps are an advanced way of representing concepts. The knowledge in question is placed at the center and 4 branches are drawn from it:
- Above: group or class to which the concept belongs.
- Below: subclasses of the concept or its branches.
- Left: main features.
- Right: exclusions (similar concepts that must be differentiated from the central one).
18. Constellation of ideas
This is another form of graphic representation, similar to mind maps and spider webs. In this case, the hierarchy is much clearer and more organized from the center, since the idea is to classify and not so much to develop.
19. Line diagram
A classic line graph, represented on the Cartesian axes, very useful for observing the progress of a process in a comprehensive manner. It is used in different areas, from mathematics to psychology.
20. Concentric circles
This is a very simple form of graphic representation. It consists of placing a concept inside a circle and surrounding it with those that encompass it. In this way it is possible to abstract ideas from the concrete to the general; also the other way around.
21. Table diagram
This organizer consists of drawing a table, where the table would be the objective or concept and the legs would be what is needed to achieve it or the details of the idea. It is useful for organizing information for a project or for establishing relationships between inseparable concepts.
The versatility of graphic organizers
There are many people who need to represent complex concepts and relationships to explain them to others, but there are also those who need to optimize their study time .
If you use these charts, remember to choose the ones that work best for you. Don’t hesitate to do so, as they make knowledge accessible to anyone.