KWL Chart, Your Savior?
Since entering the 20th century when the PC and Internet were invented, there has been a great deal of new knowledge rushing to us. Every modern citizen is able to get access to the huge knowledge database set online, and thus, many of them have to acquire massive messages each day. Ones, nevertheless, have difficulties to learn. They need to learn how to understand and what is the most efficient way of doing it. So, guides like the KWL Chart and its strategies were born to solve the problem. Now, let's find out what is KWL Chart.
- Part 1: What is KWL's Meaning?
- Part 2: When Should We Use the KWL Strategy?
- Part 3: How to Use a KWL Chart?
- Part 4: The Pros and Cons of KWL Chart
- Part 5: How to Make KWL Chart Using MindOnMap
- Part 6: FAQs of KWL Chart
Part 1. What is KWL's Meaning?
A KWL Chart is a graphical organizer developed to help students learn by recording what students Know, Want to know, and have Learned about an issue or a topic. The meaning of KWL is separated down below.
• K (Know): This part is going to require students to write down what is already known about current topics or issues, setting a learning stage for new knowledge and also for teachers so that they can have a general direction that how to conduct a class.
• W (Want to know): As its name suggests, this stage is designed for unknown stuff. Students ought to record their questions and anything they want to know or don't understand for setting a goal in further learning procedure.
• L (Learned): After the learning process, students will record what they have learned, making a conclusion or a mind map. It will aid them to have a better understanding of new knowledge. It can not only sum up the newly acquired knowledge in a chart but reinforce it for long-term effect. Here is an example of what is KWL in education:
| K (Know) | W (Want to know) | L (Learned) |
| Tungsten wire can be used for light bulbs | How does tungsten wire work? | The voltage heats it to 2000 degrees, burning it red so it glows |
| Edison invented the light bulb | Why it doesn’t melt down? | It is so hot that tungsten wire sublimates directly. |
Part 2. When Should We Use the KWL Strategy?
So, after knowing the basic features of what it is, learning when to use it is crucial as well. To begin with, it is suitable when you are designing a plan or starting to do something you have never done before.
KWL in future planning. A guy, for instance, wants to have an economy course, but he has yet to decide where he should start, what kind of achievements he wants to reach, and how to do it. At that time, making a KWL Chart can be taken into consideration. First, he needs to figure out what he already knows. Then, list the problems he needs help understanding and frequently met. Finally, conclude the lessons to find out what he has learned. After all of these procedures, he will turn himself from confused to clear.
KWL in education. Meanwhile, it's extremely suitable for the educational domain. The inventor of the KWL Chart, a man called Donna Ogle, who specializes in the academic domain, developed it in 1986. Its purpose is to serve students well, providing a thinking paradigm used in the learning process when a student or group of people are thinking or discussing a topic. The comprehension strategy originally introduced in the classroom to activate background knowledge before reading is entirely student-centered.
Also, the KWL Chart is not only to help students to study efficiently but also to lead them to critical thinking, helping them to build up their point of view of this world. The constructivist teaching method is the main central theme of the chart. It believes though the world exists objectively, everyone has their point of view of the world itself. Constructivism learning theory holds that learning is to guide students to build new experiences from the original experience.
Part 3. How to Use a KWL Chart
You need to find a sheet divided into 3 parts, "Know", "Want to know", and "Learned". Start with the "Know" part; you need to have a brainstorm first, trying to collect all the information that you grasped. This step helps you to activate prior messages, avoiding repeated knowledge acquiring, and you can check if they are right when you search for new knowledge.
We can move our sight to the next part (Want to know), which is the most important part of the whole procedure. You can collect the problems and difficulties that you meet in daily cases, finding the information that isn't contained in the "K" section. Some people, however, still need to learn more about the topic or how to start asking questions. We can use the approaches in News reports: Who, What, When, How, and Why.
The third column, Learned, is the process of summary and reflection after solving the questions in the second part. It's an essential archiving process for learning new things. When people record what they have learned, they can look at the questions in column 2 and check if they can now answer all the questions there. They can also add new questions. Review the first column to see if any errors need to be corrected in the known information they filled in at the beginning. This step completes a complete closed loop from the existing experience to the learning of new knowledge.
Part 4. The Pros and Cons of KWL Chart
Pros
• Have a Clear Picture of Known information
It helps people recall what they already know about a topic, which can make new information more relatable and easier to understand.
• Clear Goal is Provided
The •W• part requires people to ask themselves what goals they want to reach so that those questions play the role of a tour guide to lead them in the right direction. Enable them to know what and how to do it.
• Promotes Curiosity and Motivation
Focusing on what learners want to know stimulates curiosity and intrinsic motivation, which can be especially important in adult education, where learners often have specific goals.
• Tracks Learning Outcome
Recording the information they have learned, the second crucial element in learning progress might be difficult for someone who needs help with summarizing messages, yet it helps them reinforce the knowledge for a long effect and makes them less likely to forget.
• Reflective Thinking and Facilitates Group Work
It helps adults reflect on their learning process, reinforcing new knowledge and aiding in retention. It gives people a glance at their Before and After performances, stimulating their sense of achievement and giving them a more positive attitude. When using the KWL chart, it usually requires a group of people to discuss, and thus, it provides a diversified platform to exchange ideas with each other and foster collaborative learning and discussion, leveraging the various experiences and perspectives of adult learners.
Cons
• Time-Consuming
It usually needs more time than doing a simple plan. It needs to go through 3 steps to finish a chart. It includes discussion, brainstorming, finding information on the Internet, etc. Therefore, the process of filling out the chart can take up significant time, which might be a constraint for those who are fast-paced or have limited spare time.
• Superficial Responses
Some people might not care or even be unwilling to do it. Students, for instance, are less likely to do it on their own. Most of them are asked by parents to do it. They will probably give perfunctory answers and questions just for playing earlier. KLW analysis is hard for parents to tell if these contents are the real thing in kids' minds. Therefore, it's not suitable for those who are too young, have no self-control, and have weak willpower.
• Reinforcement of Misconceptions
• Overemphasis on Personal Interests
Focusing too much on what learners want to know might lead to neglecting essential but less immediately appealing parts of the curriculum. For example, a man wants to learn something about the Internet, then he writes down his questions about it. Some questions, nevertheless, may be missed during this procedure. In learning progress, he will only focus on the problems mentioned on the chart, overlooking any other information even though they might be useful and critical.
Part 5. How to Make KWL Chart Using MindOnMap
A KWL Chart involves a straightforward process that enhances people's engagement and learning by structuring their knowledge and questions. But make such a chart might be difficult for some people, confusing them about where should I start? How can I make them clear and understandable? MindOnMap can be considered an excellent choice for having numerous, practical but understandable features. Now, let's see how to make a KWL Chart using MindOnMap.
Features
• Both online and local apps are supported
• Different themes and styles are provided
• The history version is well-preserved
• It's free to use most of the functions
Operating Steps
Find the web of MindOnMap, and you can see it has 2 different forms: Online and Download. Click "Create Online".
Part 6. FAQs of KWL Chart
What is the KWL technique used for?
It is originally designed for students helping them activate knowledge, set learning goals, etc. But it can also be used in other sectors, like, business, meetings, and seminars learning.
What type of assessment is a KWL chart, and why?
A KWL Chart is a versatile and dynamic formative assessment tool that serves multiple purposes in the learning process.
What is an example of KWL?
In schools, the KWL is frequently used to both teach and learn. For teachers, they know students. For students, they learn knowledge.
Is a KWL chart critical thinking?
Yes, it allows people to think freely by writing down whatever they are curious about without what others think. The Learned part generates people's thoughts of an object, creating an isolated environment to consider.
Conclusion
In this article, we have illustrated: what is a KWL Chart, how to use a KWL chart, and so on. The KWL strategy can be used in many domains, including education, business, seminars, meetings, etc. It not only offers us a beacon to follow but also leads us to critical thinking, collaboration, and so on. Someone, however, might need clarification when making such a chart. Thus, MindOnMap can be regarded as an efficient approach to help you finish the chart nicely and fast. Also, you can use it to deal with the team planner, interpersonal chart, company report, etc. What a powerful online tool! Want to try it now? Start your new world in MindOnMap!
