Graphic Organizers

Element · All elements
Evidence · 4 claims (3 for, 1 mixed) · 6 studies (4 causal, 2 quant-synthesis), q1–q4 · 4 of 6 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description

Graphic organizers are visual structures that help learners sort, compare, and connect ideas.

Design Implications

Affordances

• Graphic Organizers
• Dual Coding

Claims

• Graphic Organizers Support Novice Comprehension [+M]
• Recall from bar graphs is more accurate when the recall format matches the studied graph format, a small effect that the content's thematic emphasis can override [~M]
• Story Mapping Improves Comprehension [+M]
• Concept mapping improves learning over most comparison conditions by a moderate average amount, but not over time-matched retrieval practice [+M]

The evidence by question

• Does studying a provided organizer improve comprehension and retention over the text alone, and for whom? Graphic Organizers Support Novice Comprehension [+M]
• Should learners build the visual themselves, and does building it beat studying a provided one or recalling from memory? Concept mapping improves learning over most comparison conditions by a moderate average amount, but not over time-matched retrieval practice [+M]

Related Elements

• Concept Mapping
• Creating Visual Representations

Key Sources

• Nesbit, J. C., & Adesope, O. O. (2006). Learning with concept and knowledge maps: A meta-analysis. Review of Educational Research, 76(3), 413-448. doi:10.3102/00346543076003413
• Using Graphic Organizers in Instruction: A Review of Research and Teacher Practice. (1998). https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED427095

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	element
id	graphic-organizers
aliases	graphic-organizer
title	Graphic Organizers
description	Graphic organizers are visual structures that help learners sort, compare, and connect ideas.
status	review
canonical	True
generated	by codex/unspecified on 2026-04-08
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources	1 — using-graphic-organizers-in-instruction-a-review-of-research-and-teacher-practice-1998

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