Types of graphic organizers

Diagrams are called graphic organizers through which concepts can be presented in a visual way. With these organizers, you will be able to explain a certain concept or notion and show the links that exist between that concept and other related ones.

As their name indicates, they allow you to organize information in order to facilitate learning and make it more dynamic. There are different types of organizers and below we will explain the best known.

The graphic organizers are content structures containing specific meanings and different ratios of the same and the central concept to be explained. These structures are used to facilitate understanding and learning . Through these organizers we can summarize the information and translate it in a simpler way.

The preparation of the organizers helps to put into practice the comparison of data, order the events, structure the information, among others.

Features of graphic organizers

Among the main characteristics of graphic organizers we find:

– Explain the general idea quickly: A well-made organizer quickly and efficiently exposes the basic concepts related to a central theme. The main objective is that whoever reads or accesses the organizer, can quickly understand the main concepts that are to be exposed without any additional explanation regarding their structure.

– They are clear and precise: another of the main characteristics of graphic organizers is that they must be clear and precise. To achieve this objective, you must be selective when choosing what information will be included in the organizer or structure. Explanations must be clear and contain the information necessary to understand the central topic.

– Relate concepts: graphic organizers deal with concept relationships with a central theme. By means of this relationship, the aim is to facilitate the understanding of all the factors that influence a certain scenario. There should be no isolated ideas, they should all be related.

– Ideas organized by hierarchy: Although there are different types of organizers, in all of them there must be a hierarchy with respect to a central theme. In this way it will be easier to understand the characteristics and scope of the main concept.

– Ease of understanding: the main objective of graphic organizers is to achieve a quick and easy reading and understanding of a specific concept or topic. In order to achieve this, the structure must contain the necessary explanations and the information must be as concise as possible.

– Use of connectors: connectors are a fundamental part of the structure of graphic organizers, since they allow the relationship between ideas and concepts. These connectors are used in place of the explanatory phrases.

– Support images: depending on the type of organizer, support images can be included in it to facilitate understanding of the concepts with more precision. These images must have a link with the proposed structure.

If you choose to use images, it is recommended that they be for conventional use, this means that the general public can understand and recognize said image and its meaning, and they should not generate doubts.

The graphic organizers should facilitate understanding of a particular idea and its related notions of a visual form that allows easy understanding. They are usually used in the different phases of learning, using structures determined according to the level of knowledge of the students.

They are also often used by companies or organizations for the development of campaigns, to explain how a production works, to explain the hierarchies of the company, among others.

Types of graphic organizers

There are different types of graphic organizers , below we will detail the main ones.

Conceptual maps

This type of graphic organizer is ideal for explaining the relationships between concepts or ideas in a clear and simple way. The different ideas are usually enclosed in circles or rectangles and the relationships between the concepts are represented by means of connectors, usually in the form of a line.

The connectors can be accompanied by short and explanatory sentences so that the reader can understand the information at sight and quickly.

Schematics

The schemes are based on presenting the information in a hierarchical way. The main ideas are placed first and then the secondary, tertiary and those that follow. Schemes can be horizontal or vertical.

With this type of organizer you can quickly understand what the main aspects are and the hierarchical relationship between them and their elements.

Organization charts

The organization charts detail the way in which an entity is organized in a hierarchical way. They also serve to plan the tasks that each individual in a group will perform.

Diagrams of Venn

These organizers, called Venn diagrams, are represented by several partially overlapping circles. Each of these circles represents a specific category and are called sets.

If two sets match visually, it means that they share certain characteristics. In the area where they do not overlap, the exclusive characteristics of each set are expressed.

The name of this organization chart is after its creator, John Venn and it was mainly created and used in the area of ​​mathematics.

Comparative tables

Comparative tables are tables in which an attempt is made to explain the main differences and similarities between two or more concepts. In these organizers there are columns where the topics are exposed and rows where the aspects to be evaluated are indicated.

They are widely used to explain the advantages and disadvantages of different concepts or what they have in common and how they differ. Its main function is to be able to quickly demonstrate these differences and similarities between the selected values.

The number of columns and rows will depend on the number of concepts or elements that you want to break down.

Summary tables

Synoptic tables are graphic organizers used to order information on a certain topic and following a hierarchy. Its way of elaboration is varied: in the form of calls, matrices or diagrams.

They are similar to organization charts, but unlike these they do not describe the organization of a group of people but rather how a specific topic is organized in order to see what the main ideas are.

Ideas map

Idea maps are also called mind maps, and they show ideas in a visual way but without following a hierarchy. They indicate main ideas. They are usually widely used in the early stages of learning, since they allow us to begin to distinguish between what is fundamental and what is not, and then to build a conceptual map.

They are usually used in: colors, graphics, images, or keywords to understand the topic.

Character map

This type of organizer is used in literary creation, to characterize the characters in the plot in a visual way. In this map, the concept of centering or character is placed in the middle and around it, different tables are created with the characteristics or the most important events of said character.

Keys

Braces are used to explain topics that have subtopics with different elements that in turn can be broken down. This type of organizer allows you to relate the hierarchical structure to the topic.

Hierarchical diagram

This organizer is shaped like a tree to break down information. The different data are placed according to predetermined levels and each of these levels has different characteristics and complexities. The hierarchical diagram tries to quickly explain the different relationships between the elements, mainly from a hierarchical link.

Sequence of events

The sequences of events are organizers used to be able to chronologically order different events that are related to a certain event. Through it, it will be easier to understand how many events are part of a scenario and how they are ordered. These graphic organizers help that decision making is not affected to a line of events completely and if to a specific area.

Spider webs

The talarañas are little-known but very useful and effective organizers to explain topics that involve many relationships or networks. Through the cobwebs, the relationship between a category that is placed in the middle of it and others that are placed around it can be shown. In this way, the relationship between the main category and the secondary ones is explained.

Unlike concept maps, cobwebs are schematic and do not need connectors to facilitate reading. There is also hierarchy in them.

Time lines

The timelines allow visualization in a schematic way when certain events or events occurred and they are ordered according to chronological dates. Through these lines, an attempt is made to facilitate the understanding of the time elapsed between different events and to learn their order. They are organizers mainly used in disciplines such as history or those related to it.

String of sequences

Sequence chains are used to represent a series of events in a certain process. These events are generally represented in circles and are related to each other by means of arrows. They are usually read according to the needles of the clock. They are very useful organizers for studying historical events or biological processes.

Story Map

With story maps, you try to divide a narrative into specific chapters and order them chronologically. Its structure usually includes specific details such as the place of the events, the names and characteristics of the characters, the time of the narration, the way the story unfolds, and so on.

Flowchart

The flowchart is also called an activity diagram or flowchart, and its main function is to be able to represent a process in the most detailed way possible. The objective of the flow chart is to be able to capture the procedure, explaining it progressively and giving importance to each of its stages.

Usually used in it, box shapes and arrows between one box and another to indicate the correct direction of the process.

Constellation of ideas or words

Through these organizers it is possible to start from a central idea or word and link it with other related concepts, always respecting a certain hierarchical order. Its name is due to the fact that the resulting structure resembles that of a constellation.

The concepts related to the main idea or word are organized around it inside ovals or circles.

Idea tree

This organizer is based on a large square where the main theme appears and hanging from it different strips on which pictures written by the participants are attached. Another way is to express it in a tree figure, where the roots and the trunk represent the main idea or theme and ideas that respond to this theme are placed on each branch.

Attribute wheel

The wheel of attributes is an organizer that is based on a circle that represents a wheel, expressing in its center the theme from which it is going to develop. Around it, the main attributes and characteristics are described.

Mandalas

Organizers mandalas are those in which circular shapes are used to create their structure. It starts from a main circle and is divided as many times as necessary, always taking into account the categories of the main topic that you want to break down.

The various divisions can be represented by timelines or circles within the main circle. Although it is a complex structure, this model is faithful to the way the brain processes information.

Summary table

This type of organization chart allows incorporating large amounts of information classified into the necessary categories. To assemble it, we start from a central element and from there the classifications are determined. Tables, circles, connectors, ovals, among others, are usually used in it. In addition you can also include descriptions, comparisons and listings.

Infomap

The infomap is a very attractive organizer since it usually includes many images. They are usually used to describe diverse information related to the historical, geographical, social or biological fields, and so on. As a disadvantage of this organizer, it can be said that they do not express very specific information due to the large number of images that usually occupy a large part of the space.

Cartoon graphic organizer

The cartoon graphic organizer allows you to break down the information of a cartoon or cartoon. They are usually consecutive boxes in which the information is explained and respecting a chronological order. These boxes are usually divided into two fractions, one larger than the other. The largest or upper one represents a drawing related to the main theme, and the lower one expresses a brief description related to the drawing.

Sadness

The organized graphic called comb is characterized by being based on a single main theme and then breaking down all the possible variants that this theme may have. It is an organizer that encourages creativity, since the more variants are detected, the greater the information that will be obtained from the main theme.