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Tools and Strategies

Welcome, this page contains information, instructions and downloads for tools and strategies and models of learning.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
  Tool Description  

A

Action Plan

 

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A question is posed and team members write individual ideas on post-its. These ideas are then sorted & categorised.

 

Using the alphabetical format clarifies students’ thinking. It is a sorting process which is made easier by considering one aspect at a time.

 

Appointment Clock

A tool to group strudents into partners.

 

B

A practical step-by-step strategy for developing innovative and highly unusual products. This type of strategy is often used in today’s high tech product development laboratories to create new products for the market.

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 Bloom's Taxonomy defines six different levels of thinking. The levels build in increasing order of difficulty from basic, rote memorization to higher (more difficult and sophisticated) levels of critical thinking skills.

 

A Bone Diagram allows us to reflect on our current situation as well as plan or visualise a future or desired situation.

 

Brainstorming is the free, uninhabited generation of ideas, usually in a group setting.

 

Double Bubbles, like Venn diagrams, illustrate the relationships between two or more groups of objects that share something in common. 

 

 

C

A charting device used to break down an aim or result into major capacities, minor capacities and learning levels.

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A type of non-linear graphic organiser that can help to systematize the generation of ideas based upon a central topic.

 

A process that asks you to list the attributes of 2 dissimilar objects (one within your area of study, one outside), then combine the attributes into a single object. Many important inventions, such as the disposable razor (the concept of loading bullets into a rifle, combined with a normal razor) and the first printing press (the wine press and the coin punch) were created in this way.

 

A process to use when comparing and contrasting objects with a variety of criteria.

 

Consensogram is a tool used to identify a knowledge level or opinion that a student has on a topic

 

Correlation Chart

 

D

 

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E

 

F

The Fishbone Diagram or the Ishikawa Diagram, also known as the Cause-and-Effect Diagram, is a tool used for identifying and presenting the possible causes of a particular problem in visual format. 

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Fish Philosophy

The Fish Philosophy is a set of simple, interconnected principles that everyone can tailor to their own life and work – old wisdom for a new day. When you choose to incorporate these principles – Play, Be There, Choose Your Attitude and Make Someone’s Day – you’ll see a positive change in the relationships you create at work and at home. The underlying view of the Fish Philosophy is that meaningful learning occurs, when the learner is directly linked to and involved with, the content being presented.

 

The Five Whys is a powerful tool to promote deep thinking through questioning. It is an easy tool to use and requires little resourcing.

 

 

 

 

Force Field Analysis

 

G

Gantt Chart

 

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This strategy allows provides opportunities fro students/participants to capture and share their understandings and experiences about a given topic. It also allows students to piggyback ideas, thoughts and experiences.

H

Habits of Mind

 

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This strategy involves the use of a ‘round robin’ format in developing and sharing information within a group.

 

Hot Seat

 

 

This strategy is allows the facilitator/teacher to quickly gain an overview of the current level of knowledge of individuals and the group.  It also allows individuals to think about and evaluate their level of knowledge.  It can also be used to show learning growth when used throughout the learning process.

I

If .. Then

 

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Impact Grid

 

  Internet Research Skills To learn more about effective Internet research skills visit this site.  

 

Another innovative thinking exercise. Develops the ability to consider a wide range of consequences. Describe an unusual situation and then think of some different explanations for the existence of that situation.

 

Kids (and grownups too) love to invent things if given the opportunity. Tragically, the opportunities in today’s society seem to be growing fewer and fewer. This process encourage students to develop inventions which are constructed in an unusual manner.

 

 

J

The Jigsaw strategy encourages the development of specific skills within individual team members. It is a cooperative strategies for promoting responsibility within each of the students in the team.

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Judge and Jury

 

K

 

 

 

L

Lotus Diagram
The Lotus Diagram is an analytical, organisational tool for breaking broad topics into a number of components, which may be prioritised for implementation.

M

Mind Map

 

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Ian Harris’s Model Maps are based on the fact that we think in a holographic way. Model Maps organise thinking through using visual, auditory and kinesthetic senses. While education is often structured around a liner system, Model Maps allow individual learners to translate information, whether spoken or written, into their own holographic maps of understanding.

 

Multiple Intelligences

 

 

This is a strategy is a collaborative process to select the most important items.This strategy is used when there is a variety of issues and opinions  and group consensus is required.

N

NGT (Nominal Group Technique)

This is a strategy is a collaborative process to make decisions on important  issues.  It puts team members on an equal footing.

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O

 

 

P

Pairing

A cooperative learning strategy where students interact with a partner to complete their work requirements.

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Parking Lot

A reflective tool to share ideas and pose questions.

 

PCQ

  Pros, Cons & Questions

 

PERT

 

 

A cooperative learning tool to promote group discussion.

 

Plus / Delta

A Plus/Delta is a simple inclusive strategy enabling everyone to consider the pluses - what went well, and the deltas -what you would like to see changed. The Plus Delta is a great feedback tool.

 

PMI (Plus Minus Interesting)

 

 

POPE

 

 

Print Walk

 

 

P3T

 

Q

Question Matrix

 

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R

Radar Chart

 

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Right Angled Thinking

This strategy is a structured thinking process which scaffolds thinking in a linear structured manner as well as making connections to associated ideas and creative thoughts. This strategy also provides students with a whole brained approach to note taking and gathering and organizing information

 

Reverse Key

Students are too often required to regurgitate endless lists of facts. Moving in the opposite direction still requires a sound knowledge base, but it forces students to think.

 

Review Review Review

This strategy provides student with an opportunity to review their learning through a VAK cooperative learning process.

 

 

 

S

See Saw

 

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Six Thinking Hats

 

 

Stay and Stray

An interactive process which can be used to build knowledge or summarise learning through sharing

 

SWOT

This is an evaluative tool, similar to a P.M.I., that explores in detail the pros and cons of an issue, the related causes and possibilities.

 

SCAMPER

The SCAMPER technique uses a set of directed questions which you answer about your probortunity in order to come up with new ideas. The stimulus comes from forcing yourself to answer questions which you would not normally pose. The questions direct you to thinking about a probortunity in ways which typically come up with new ideas.

T

Telephone

In ‘Telephone’, students are required to transmit information to other team members to ensure their team’s success.

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Thinkers Keys

Different teaching strategies developed by Tony Ryan, that encourage and demonstrate innovatove and creative thinking

 

Think Pair Share

This strategy is a structured process to share information efficiently.  It can be used as a reflective tool at any stage throughout the learning process.  The process can lead to other learning situations that builds on background knowledge and understanding.

U

 

 

V

Venn Diagram

A Venn Diagram is made up of two or more overlapping circles.  Venn Diagrams are an excellent tool to visually compare and contrast similarities and differences.

 

 

 

W

Walk and Talk

This strategy is a cooperative learning process to share learning.

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What If... key

Great for introducing an area of study, and for tapping into the students’ knowledge base. It also generates loads of innovative ideas. You can ask virtually any What If question. They can be either serious or frivolous.

 

WIFLE

(What I Feel Like Expressing)

WIFLE is a process that allows the student to express their thoughts, ideas, opinions, concerns, feelings etc about their learning or learning situation.

  Wikis

A wiki is a website that uses wiki software which allows for the easy creation and editing of any interlinked web pages using a WYSIWYG editor. A number of CAP schools are using wikis in their classroom and school. An examples of a commonly used wiki engines are wikispaces.

 

 

WOEDIL

(What On Earth Did I Learn)

WOEDIL is a reflective process that allows the student to verbalise what they have learnt. 

 

Wordles and Phrasles

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Y

Y chart

Y-Chart is a graphic organiser which helps organize what someone knows about a topic by writing and/or drawing what the topic looks like, feels like, and sounds like.

Z

Zoolies

 

 

 

 

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