Cues,+questions,+and+advance+organizers

= ​Cues, questions, and advance organizers =

Overview
Cues, questions, and advance organizers help teachers to "set the stage for learning" (Focus on Effectiveness Website, @http://www.netc.org/focus/strategies/cues.php) and allow students to form connections between their prior knowledge and the material they are about to learn. When implemented effectively these tools promote higher-order thinking skills, encourage discussion and conversation, and address diverse learning styles by presenting information in multiple ways.

1) WebQuest

 * Strategy: Cues**

Many students are overwhelmed and confused by the abundance of information available online and struggle to conduct effective independent research and online inquiries. WebQuests are an effective way to lead students to the most relevant information and help them to weed through trivial information to focus on only what is most important. This effective strategy enables teachers to pose complex questions and then lead students to the most reliable resources. Teacher-designed or pre-existing WebQuests provide the necessary cues that allow students to focus more of their attention on the instructional material by eliminating the often frustrating aspects of internet searches.
 * Rationale**

Teachers may choose to use an existing WebQuest that they have located online or may decide to create their own WebQuest. The basic requirements for WebQuest creation are as follows: In order to successfully use a WebQuest, students will need:
 * Requirements**
 * Teacher-designed WebQuest
 * Computer
 * Internet access
 * Google Sites or Filamentality for WebQuest creation
 * Server space for posting the WebQuest
 * Existing WebQuest
 * Computer
 * Internet access
 * Computer
 * Internet access

WebQuests offer an effective way to provide learning cues at no additional cost. The school's computers meet the minimum requirements and no additional hardware is required. Google Sites and Filamentality are free web creation services. WebQuests may be stored on these servers or teachers may opt to post them on the school's server.
 * Cost**

Furthermore, a comprehensive selection of existing WebQuests can be found online through a variety of sites including: Access to these sites is unlimited and free of charge.
 * www.webquest.org
 * @http://www.bestwebquests.com/
 * @http://www.lth3.k12.il.us/rhampton/database.html
 * @http://www.gecdsb.on.ca/d&g/DP/main.htm

@http://factchecked.org/Welcome.aspx

 * Strategy: Questions**

Asking questions is a strategy that most teachers use on a daily basis and an estimated 80 percent of student-teacher interaction centers around cues and questions (Focus on Effectiveness Website, @http://www.netc.org/focus/strategies/cues.php). However, in many cases teachers tend to ask lower-level questions that require students to simply recall information. According to the Focus on Effectiveness Website, teachers may increase student learning by asking higher-level questions, engaging students in meaningful discussions, and encouraging students to formulate their own questions.
 * Rationale**

The Fact Check Ed Website is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center and was designed to help students question and analyze infomation. The site provides students with a five-step framework for analyzing information and promotes higher level thinking and questioning. It contains a number of valuable lessons that can be used in the classroom to encourage students to look beyond the face value of the information presented, question its veracity, and uncover deceptions. These skills can be applied to any and all future learning situations and will help students to become more savvy consumers of information.

The Fact Check Ed Website also includes an AskFactCheck feature in which students are encouraged to formulate and submit questions about current affairs. By encouraging students to ask the experts at Fact Check, teachers are prompting them to think deeply about a topic and generate relevant, higher-order questions.

This website and its resources can be accessed by anyone with a computer and an internet connection.
 * Requirements**

There is no cost associated with the Fact Check Ed Website. All lessons and resources may be accessed and used free of charge.
 * Cost**

3) Inspiration Software and Interactive Whiteboard[[image:inspirationoverview.gif align="right"]]
@http://www.inspiration.com/


 * Strategy:** **Advance Organizer

Rationale** According to the Focus on Effectiveness Website (@http://www.netc.org/focus/strategies/cues.php), graphic organizers are one type of advance organizer that help students learn new concepts, reinforce vocabulary, and support reading skills. Inspiration is a comprehensive software package that allows students and teachers to create, edit, and share a wide variety of graphic organizers. Its interactive capabilities allow students to move beyond traditional graphic organizers and create high quality products that incorporate digital images, video, sound, and hyperlinks.

In addition, Inspiration can be used independently or in conjunction with an interactive whiteboard to allow the teacher to model its use and provide a forum for whole-class discussions, brainstorming, and concept mapping. This outstanding software can be used in every subject area to enhance student learning and increase focus and comprehension.


 * Requirements**
 * Windows
 * Pentium 75 MHz or higher
 * Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT 4.0, XP, or Vista
 * 8 MB RAM, 15 MB available hard drive
 * Internet connection and QuickTime are recommended
 * Macintosh
 * System 8.6, 9.x, or OS X (10.1.5 or higher), Leopard compatible
 * 5 MB RAM, 10 MB available hard drive,
 * Internet connection and QuickTime are recommended

A perpetual site license for 300-499 students is $1,795. This license is based on student enrollment and involves network installation. Although the cost is high, Inspiration is a program that can be used in every subject area and addresses several instructional strategies (see Nonlinguistic Representation).
 * Cost**

English Language Learners
English Language Learners pose a particularly difficult education challenge as they struggle to master the English language as well as the content area material. The use of Inspiration as an advance organizer is one way to address this challenge and support the specific needs of ELL students. According to research presented on the Focus on Effectiveness Website:
 * Advance organizers, especially visual ones, help students learn new concepts and vocabulary
 * Presenting information graphically as well as symbolically in an advance organizer reinforces vocabulary learning and supports learning
 * Higher level, general advance organizers produce deeper learning than overly detailed organizers

Inspiration, with its graphic and digital image capabilities, allows ELL students to easily form visual connections between their prior knowledge and the new material being presented. By removing the dependence on written text and providing visual cues, teachers will enable ELL students to connect visually with the content area material, thereby enhancing learning and increasing comprehension.

Ask Fact Check Image. Retrieved from http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/.

Inspiration Advance Organizer Image. Retrieved from http://www.inspiration.com/Inspiration/Whats-New#web_resources. Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. (2005). //Focus on Effectiveness.// Retrieved from