Don't Water Down! Enhance Content Learning Through the Unit Organizer Routine
Boudah, D. J., Lenz, B. K., Bulgren, J. A., Schumaker, J. B., & Deshler, D. D. (2000). Don't water down! Enhance content learning through the unit organizer routine. Teaching Exceptional Children, 32(3), 48-56.
Abstracted by Barbara Higgins-Dover
In this article, the researchers/authors suggest that our educational system needs instructional techniques that don't "water down" the curriculum, but are effective and acceptable to both students and teachers. The Unit Organizer is described as one research-based teaching technique that can be put into practice. Descriptions, illustrations and examples of maps, practical tips, and additional resources are available for the reader.
Content Enhancement and the Unit Organizer Routine: Content Enhancement is described as an approach involving decision-making about the content to be emphasized in a unit. The importance of transforming such content into more easily understood and remembered formats is also discussed. Unit Organizer is one Content Enhancement routine that has been developed as a device for achieving such results.
Unit Organizer Device: The Unit Organizer is a visual device that graphically organizes and depicts the content of the unit to be taught. This device consists of a presentation of the overall organization of unit information including questions, relationships, and tasks for the student to complete. The Unit Organizer also provides an ongoing structure for effective note-taking.
Unit Organizer Sections: The Unit Organizer contains sections that provide specific types of information related to the unit. These sections include the Current Unit, Last Unit/ Experience, Next Unit/ Experience, The Bigger Picture, and the Unit Map, which contains the Unit Paraphrase and Graphic Organizer.
An Abbreviated Example for Using Unit Organizer: To engage students in using the Unit Organizer, a Cue-Do-Review sequence is provided. It is suggested that the teacher hand out blank copies of the Unit Organizer device. "Cue" the students to fill out their own device while using an overhead projector to fill out a blank device. Spend time discussing organization and how this can be used in the classroom. Using a set of Linking Steps (Do), engage the students in completing their own Unit Organizer device by looking at the overall context of the unit and expanding on information gained. Finally, use a simple "review" to check and clarify student understanding of information discussed.
Tips, Suggestions and Modifications: In this section, the researchers/authors provide planning tips, logistical suggestions, ideas for modifications, and assessment considerations for using the Unit Organizer in the classroom. An illustration of supporting research is incorporated into the reading emphasizing the positive results teachers have obtained from using this technique.
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