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Identifying Similarities and Differences

from Classroom Instruction thatWorks Robert J. Marzano, Debra, J . Pickering, JaneE. Pollock, MCREL, 2001.

Summary of Research on Identifying Similarities and Differences
  • Guidance in identifying similarities and differences enhances students' understanding of and ability to use knowledge.
  • Independently identifying similarities and differences enhances students' understanding of and the ability to use knowledge.
  • Representing similarities and differences in graphic or symbolic form enhances students' understanding of and ability to use knowledge.
  • Identifying similarities and differences can be accomplished in a variety of ways: comparing, classifying, creating metaphors, and creating analogies.
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    Classroom Practice in Identifying Similarities and Differences


  • The key to effective comparison is the identification of important characteristics.
  • Organizing elements into groups based on their similarities is the basis of classifying. 
  • The key to constructing a metaphor is to realize that the two items in the metaphor are connected by an abstract or nonliteral relationship.
  • Analogies help us see how seemingly dissimilar things are similar, increasing our understanding of new information. The typical use a "blank is to blank"as "blank is to blank" type of comparison but can also be diagramed.
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    Technology Resources

        Title: Graphic Organizers
        Grade Level(s): K-12
        Curricular Area(s): All
        Description: Web sites with electronic templates.
        Resources (Files, Websites,etc.):


    Software Applications

    Title: Microsoft PowerPoint
    Grade Level(s):3-12 
    Curricular Area(s):All
    Description:
    Resources (Files, Websites,etc.):

    Title: Inspiration Software Inc.
    Grade Level(s):k-12
    CurricularArea(s):All
    Description: Inspiration K-12 and Kidspiration support visual thinking techniques, enabling students to easily create and update graphic organizers, concept maps and idea maps.
    Resources (Files, Websites,etc.):

    Title: Movie Editing
    Grade Level(s):Jr-Sr High
    Curricular Area(s):Language Arts, Science, Art
    Description:
    Resources (Files, Websites,etc.):

    Title: Graphics Applications
    Grade Level(s):k-12
    Curricular Area(s):Language Arts, Science, Art
    Description:
    Resources (Files, Websites,etc.):

Downloads
Multiples of 2 and3


Online Tools for Similarities and Differences:
  • Marco Polo's Read-Write-Think: Venn Diagram, 2-circle
    Click on "Interactive Tool" to get the online venn diagram creator. This site lists many examples for using similarities and differences in the classroom.
  • Marco Polo's Read-Write-Think: Venn Diagram, 3-circle
    Click on "Interactive Tool" to get the online venn diagram creator. This site lists examples for using similarities and differences in the classoom.
  • Marco Polo's Read-Write-Think: Compare and Contrast Guide
  • Graphic Organizers--Web English site lists provides a list of web sites housing sample graphic organizers. Many are in pdf format and make the organizers easy to utilize.


Research on Graphic Organizers

Scientifically based research cited in the literature review demonstrates that a research base exists to support the use of graphic organizers for improving student learning and performance in the following areas:

Reading comprehension
Student achievement across grade levels, diverse student populations and content areas
Thinking and learning skills such as organizing and communicating ideas; seeing patterns and relationships; and categorizing ideas
Retention


Why Gizmos Work