Compare/Contrast Matrix Graphic Organizer Definition: "This strategy helps students extract details from the text and organize them into a logical chart to use later when they are studying or writing an essay." (Miller & Veatch, 2011) This strategy is best used for text that is full of details such as people, events, and places. Nonfiction texts would be great for students to use this strategy because nonfiction texts are enhanced with a ton of details and facts. A graphic organizer is a visual and graphic display that depicts the relationships between facts, terms, and or ideas within a learning task. Using the compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer, students can visually see similarities and differences between whatever the text topic is. It makes is easy for students to compare and contrast because the information is organized and great for visual learners. There is a picture of an example below.
Compare/Contrast Matrix Graphic Organizer Research: "There is solid evidence for the effectiveness of graphic organizers in facilitating learning. Ten of the 12 studies investigating effects of graphic organizer use on learning reviewed here reported some positive learning outcome. Research focuses this overview on two main areas: comprehension and vocabulary knowledge." (Academic.cuesta.edu, 2014) Research shows the use of graphic organizers elevates comprehension. (Hudson, Lignugaris-Kraft, & Miller, 1993) concludes that visual displays can be successfully implemented at several phases of the instructional cycle. Positive outcomes have been reported when graphic organizers are used."
How you may use it: This strategy can be used by having the teacher select a leveled text that covers the content that is being taught. The text must be a compare/contrast structure to gather details and develop a matrix graphic organizer. Do as a class first. Once comfortable, in small groups, have students create their own graphic organizer with headings for major concepts on the vertical and horizontal axis. Walk around as the students read the text together and think aloud. Make sure the students are recording details from the text in appropriate places on the matrix graphic organizer. Students could also use this strategy in the beginning of the year to compare and contrast things individually about themselves. It would be a great way to introduce the strategy and for everyone in the class to get to know each other. Some major headers could be favorite hobby, age, number of siblings, number of pets, favorite food, favorite color, and so on.
How you may use it: This strategy can be used by having the teacher select a leveled text that covers the content that is being taught. The text must be a compare/contrast structure to gather details and develop a matrix graphic organizer. Do as a class first. Once comfortable, in small groups, have students create their own graphic organizer with headings for major concepts on the vertical and horizontal axis. Walk around as the students read the text together and think aloud. Make sure the students are recording details from the text in appropriate places on the matrix graphic organizer. Students could also use this strategy in the beginning of the year to compare and contrast things individually about themselves. It would be a great way to introduce the strategy and for everyone in the class to get to know each other. Some major headers could be favorite hobby, age, number of siblings, number of pets, favorite food, favorite color, and so on.
How it will benefit student learning: This strategy will benefit student learning because students get to pick out important details in a text and organize it all in the graphic organizer. The graphic organizer presents the student with the most important information to study or create an essay with. It is beneficial for students to use this strategy because students will most likely understand and remember the content subject that is being taught. The information is precise. Use Graphics to help students interpret what is important to know and what is interesting. Students are more likely to become strategic learners. Reading and writing skills, comunication skills, and creative thinking skills improve when students learn to recognize patterns and use of graphic organizers.
Writing component of the strategy: W.7.8 Gather relevant information from print, using search terms effectively. Writing is tied into the compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer strategy because after students find information; they have to write the details into the matrix boxes. If a teacher decides to teach a lesson using this strategy, then having students create an essay. Students must use their writing skills to fill out the compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer and write an essay summarizing the organizer with opinions added to the essay.
2 videos with short summary: The first video shows you how to create a comparison matrix. The lady uses apples and oranges, but only uses five of each so it's not overwhelming. This is a hint when creating matrixes to not write so many details, but keep it simple with important things such as using only 5 major headings and etc. This is a great way to introduce how to create a compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer because the lady uses apple and oranges. She uses two simple items so students can grasp the idea of the matrix. If not, mostly all students know what an apple and orange is; therefore it's good two items to choose because everyone is familiar with the "topics." Using this video is great for instruction because the teacher isn't standing in front of the class lecturing for twenty minutes or more how to create the matrix graphic organizer. This way, it's a short two and a half minute video that summarizes how to create the matrix using descriptive words and an example. If students have more questions, the teacher can answer them after the video, but the video explains the strategy thoroughly. This strategy is great for assessing students because after students fill out the compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer a teacher can assign a short essay to see if students understood the similarities and differences summarized up together.
The second video shows a lady comparing and contrasting two items using a Venn Diagram. It's not a matrix graphic organizer, but I chose the video to compare the matrix and Venn Diagram strategy. Throughout the video, the lady shows how to teach creating a Venn Diagram in the classroom. Before diving into the Venn Diagram, she writes down characteristics with yes or no. This helps her set up where to write her information in the Venn Diagram. With the matrix strategy you are writing information under headers, but into your final matrix copy. You could ask questions on the side to make it more organized, but most likely students will fill out the boxes first. This is great for student engagement because I feel like a teacher can compare and contrast the two strategies with the class and show how the matrix is more in depth than the Venn Diagram.
Writing component of the strategy: W.7.8 Gather relevant information from print, using search terms effectively. Writing is tied into the compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer strategy because after students find information; they have to write the details into the matrix boxes. If a teacher decides to teach a lesson using this strategy, then having students create an essay. Students must use their writing skills to fill out the compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer and write an essay summarizing the organizer with opinions added to the essay.
2 videos with short summary: The first video shows you how to create a comparison matrix. The lady uses apples and oranges, but only uses five of each so it's not overwhelming. This is a hint when creating matrixes to not write so many details, but keep it simple with important things such as using only 5 major headings and etc. This is a great way to introduce how to create a compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer because the lady uses apple and oranges. She uses two simple items so students can grasp the idea of the matrix. If not, mostly all students know what an apple and orange is; therefore it's good two items to choose because everyone is familiar with the "topics." Using this video is great for instruction because the teacher isn't standing in front of the class lecturing for twenty minutes or more how to create the matrix graphic organizer. This way, it's a short two and a half minute video that summarizes how to create the matrix using descriptive words and an example. If students have more questions, the teacher can answer them after the video, but the video explains the strategy thoroughly. This strategy is great for assessing students because after students fill out the compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer a teacher can assign a short essay to see if students understood the similarities and differences summarized up together.
The second video shows a lady comparing and contrasting two items using a Venn Diagram. It's not a matrix graphic organizer, but I chose the video to compare the matrix and Venn Diagram strategy. Throughout the video, the lady shows how to teach creating a Venn Diagram in the classroom. Before diving into the Venn Diagram, she writes down characteristics with yes or no. This helps her set up where to write her information in the Venn Diagram. With the matrix strategy you are writing information under headers, but into your final matrix copy. You could ask questions on the side to make it more organized, but most likely students will fill out the boxes first. This is great for student engagement because I feel like a teacher can compare and contrast the two strategies with the class and show how the matrix is more in depth than the Venn Diagram.