Revisiting the Introductory Challenge

Back to: Module: Helping with Instruction

In their work to use UDL well, the teams of teachers and parapros at Johnstown Middle School needed to find or create graphic organizers. They realized that graphic organizers would help all students learn more. That’s the whole point of UDL: it allows all students to take part, share ideas, and learn.

So, the Johnstown teams looked for and designed some concept maps, story maps, and other graphic organizers. Their plan was to use these graphic organizers along with their usual teaching materials.

The Introductory Challenge asked you to put yourself into the picture as a parapro on one of the Johnstown teams. What would the role require of you? What resources might help?

Now you know a little more about graphic organizers. And you probably have some ideas about the skills you can bring to the work of finding and developing graphic organizers. You might also have some ideas about online resources that would be helpful in this work.

The table below allows you to record your ideas about how to go about finding and creating graphic organizers of various sorts. It also helps you keep track of the relevant skills you already have or will develop later on.

 

Type of Graphic Organizer	Your Skills	Internet Resources
Concept Map	Drawing a concept map freehand? Yes/No Using a Word template to develop a concept map? Yes/No Finding websites with concept maps for different content fields (e.g., English, math, science)? Yes/No Using an on-line tool for developing concept maps? Yes/No	List relevant websites:
Story Map	Drawing a story map freehand? Yes/No Using a Word template to develop a story map? Yes/No Using an on-line tool for developing story maps? Yes/No	List relevant websites:
Flow Chart	Using a Word template to develop a flow chart? Yes/No Using Excel to develop a flow chart? Yes/No Finding websites with flow charts depicting various processes related to academic content (e.g., math, science)? Yes/No Using an on-line tool for developing flow charts? Yes/No	List relevant websites:
Other Graphic Organizers	Using T charts? Yes/No Using timelines? Yes/No Using fishbone diagrams? Yes/No Using Venn diagrams? Yes/No Using crosswalks? Yes/No	List relevant websites: