Identifying Similarities and Differences

From Web 2.0 That Works: Marzano & Web 2.0

Contents 1 Generalizations From Research 2 Example Activities 3 Recommendations & Ideas 4 Web 2.0 Connections 5 Examples from teachers, students, classrooms, schools

Enhance students' understanding of and ability to use knowledge by engaging them in mental processes that involve identifying ways items are alike and different.

Generalizations From Research

1. Presenting students with explicit guidance in identifying similarities and differences enhances students’ understanding of and ability to use knowledge.
2. Asking students to independently identify similarities and differences enhances students’ understanding of and ability to use knowledge.
3. Representing similarities and differences in graphic or symbolic form enhances students’ understanding of and ability to use knowledge.
4. Identification of similarities and differences can be accomplished in a variety of ways. The identification of similarities and differences is a highly robust activity.

Example Activities

• Venn Diagrams
• Comparison Matrix
• Analogies Organizer

Recommendations & Ideas

1. Use comparing, classifying, metaphors, and analogies when having students compare similarities and differences.
2. Give students a model of the steps for engaging in the process.
3. Use a familiar context to teach students these steps.
4. Use Graphic Organizers as a visual tool to represent similarities and differences.
5. Guide students as they engage in this process. Gradually give less structure and less guidance.

Information presented above in the definition is from McREL, and generalizations from research, and recommendations & ideas is from Classroom Instruction that Works: Research-Based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement (ASCD)(Robert J. Marzano, Debra J. Pickering, Jane E. Pollock).

Web 2.0 Connections

"Y" Under each category indicates that this tool can be used with this strategy.

"Free +" Indicates that the tool is free at the basic level, but that more advanced versions are available at a cost.

Category Key:

SD = Identifying Similarities and Differences CL = Cooperative Learning SNT = Summarizing and Note-Taking ER = Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition HP = Homework and Practice NR = Nonlinguistic Representation OF = Setting Objectives and Providing Feedback HYP = Generating and Testing Hypotheses QCO = Questions, Cues, and Advance Organizers

Tool	Link	Desc	Cost	SD	CL	SNT	ER	HP	NR	OF	HYP	QCO	Notes
Exploratree	[[1]]	Online Graphic Organizer	Free	Y	Y	Y		Y		Y		Y	Interactive, pre-made graphic organizers that can be edited online
MediaWiki	[[2]]	Open Source wiki software	Free	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Wiki engine that powers [http://www.wikipedia.org Wikipedia] as well as this wiki.
Netvibes	[[3]]	Online Personal Homepage	Free	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y
iGoogle	[[4]]	Online Personal Homepage	Free	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Integrates with all Google tools
Ning	[[5]]	Community Websites	Free	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Can be used for a classroom website
Backpack	[[6]]	Online Personal Organizer	Free +	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y		Y	Y
EditGrid	[[7]]	Online Spreadsheets	Free +	Y	Y			Y		Y		Y	Integrates with Facebook and iPhone
Writeboard	[[8]]	Online Collaborative Note-Taking	Free	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y		Y	Integrates with BackPack
Diigo	[[9]]	Online Social Annotation	Free	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y			Y
MyNoteIT	[[10]]	Online Note-Taking	Free	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y		Y
stu.dicio.us	[[11]]	Online Note-Taking	Free	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y		Y	Currently under redevelopment
pbWiki	[[12]]	Wiki Hosting Website	Free	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
YackPack	[[13]]	Online voice Messaging	Free	Y	Y		Y	Y		Y		Y	Links directs to YackPack for Educators information
Thinkature	[[14]]	Online Collaboration & Whiteboard	Free	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y
SketchUp	[[15]]	3D Drawing Software	Free	Y	Y			Y	Y				Integrates with Google Earth
Ajax13	[[16]]	Online Graphic Editor	Free	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y			Y	Requires Firefox 1.5 (or higher) Browser
ScanR	[[17]]	Online Scanner, Copier, Fax from Phone or Digital Camera	Free +	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y			Y
Zoho Wiki	[[18]]	Wiki Hosting Website	Free	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Part of Zoho Suite of Online Apps
Flickr	[[19]]	Photo Hosting Website	Free +	Y	Y		Y		Y				Part of Zoho Suite of Online Apps
Google SpreadSheets	[[20]]	Online Spreadsheets	Free	Y	Y			Y		Y		Y	Also contains Documents & Presentations
Zoho Sheet	[[21]]	Online Spreadsheets	Free	Y	Y			Y		Y		Y	Part of Zoho Suite of Online Apps
EduBlogs	[[22]]	Blog Hosting Website	Free	Y	Y	Y		Y			Y	Y
WordPress	[[23]]	Blog Hosting Website	Free	Y	Y	Y		Y			Y	Y
Technorati	[[24]]	Blog Search Engine	Free	Y	Y	Y		Y			Y	Y
Blogger	[[25]]	Blog Hosting Website	Free	Y	Y	Y		Y			Y	Y
Wikispaces	[[26]]	Wiki Hosting Website	Free	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y

Examples from teachers, students, classrooms, schools

Please click on the "edit" tab to share your examples here.

Contributor: Louise Maine In order to understand the classification of animals in the phyla and some classes of phyla, students were given two organisms each of two particular classes or phyla to determine similarities and differences among them. Information was collected from the class and put together in a large document to show these in relation to the animal kingdom. As a class, the information was discussed to show how the similarities and differences among these animals placed them in a particular class and phylum.

Contributor: Tiffany Zarling In order to simplify the voice recording process for book trailers, students use www.voki.com. They create a free account, create their own avatar, and can record their voices in a variety of ways (text to speech, phone call, uploading, or recording directly). It IS a free+ tool. The free accounts record up to one minute of voice. You can email, embed, or house your finished Voki through the website as well. It was a great motivating tool for senior level English students!