Graphic Organizers in the Classroom Visual thinking can be expressed in many ways. Graphic organizers are one way for visual thinkers to arrange their ideas. There are unlimited ways to express these visual ideas.
Graphic organizers have many names including visual maps, mind mapping, and visual organizers.
Although many students plan with paper and pencil, technology tools can be very helpful because they allow easy editing. Graphic organizers can be used in all phases of learning from brainstorming ideas to presenting findings. They can be used individually or in large groups. For example, some teachers like to create a class concept map as a large group to review at the end of a unit or develop a character map while reading a book aloud to the class. These tools are particularly useful in activities that require critical thinking skills.