Graphic Organizers

As a Special Education Teacher one of my most challenging issues that I deal with on a daily basis is trying to keep my students Organized. There are many different challenges in keeping my students organized. Often there is the homework issue, or turning in assignments on time, or coming to class prepared.  Also, there is organization issues in organizing your thoughts for a writing assignment, or organizing ideas for a project. I reviewed the following web tools that can help with organization.

bubbl.us -  bubbl.us is a free webtool for mind mapping and making graphic organizers. Graphic Organizers are a great tool to help promote visual learning, breaking down large ideas into steps, and also organizing ideas. Students have the ability to share their mindmaps with each other on this website.

Wisemapping.com Wisemapping is another brainstorming graphic organizer tool. It is not as flashy as other graphic organizing applications. This is a free service but does not offer as many of the same over the top free features that the other Graphic Organizers do. 

Mind42.com  - Mind42 is a free web based graphic organizer tool. Users can save, share, and export their graphic organizers. Graphic organizers are a great tool to help promote visual learning, breaking down large ideas into steps, and organizing ideas. What is unique about mind42.com is that you can export your files into either images or rtf files, have icons in thought boxes, and add widgets. Users can share their mind maps.


 Mindmeister.com -  Mindmeister is a subscription based graphic organizer. The user can receive 3 maps for free but then there are two tiers for price A business subscription is $9 a month or for personal use it is $59 a year.  Mindmeister is also a collaborative graphic organizer but also includes note taking software, the ability to skype conference, notify of changes by either email or twitter. This is, in my opinion, the best graphic organizer but  there is a financial component with this site.


Loosestitch.com -  Loosestitch is an outliner subscription service that provides outlining graphic organizing software. One can create an outline and share it with other colleagues. There is a single user and corporate account. This website does cost money to use. If I had money to spend for a subscription service graphic organizer I would feel most comfortable with using Mindmeister.

www.ozline.com/electraguide/thesis.html  I have this categorized as a Graphic Organizer but this website has a few tools that will help students formulate a thesis, develop a topic, and has guides for embedding video into your blog. This is not a collaborative site but none the less this is a good site to help students organize their thoughts and put that into their writing.