Thinking with Technology

Activity 5.1

Step 2: Introducing List Ranking in the Classroom

Learners brainstorm lists for everything from ranking their favourite songs to planning which option to consider. When learners rank one option higher than another, for instance, they do so by creating a personal set of criteria, narrowing the list of all options (at the conclusion of a brainstorm) to a few that meet their criteria, and then ordering the final list by evaluating how a particular option ranks relative to the others in their list.

Any project that has learners prioritizing or choosing among options can benefit from the Visual Ranking Tool. Here are several prompts for Visual Ranking that learners might use in a variety of learning area / subjects and grades:

Rank the items in this supply list in order of their usefulness when setting up a base camp and research station on the moon.
Considering maintenance costs, size, temperament, and popularity, which animals would be good pets for the city? Put your choices in order.
Rank the importance of possible features for our new public park based on the interests of the community stakeholder group your team represents.
Which development choices have the LEAST effect on the river environment and trout population?
Put this list of inventions in order of their importance to modern life. After research and debate, sign in as [2nd team name] and rank again. Compare your first ranking [1st team name] with your later ranking.
What are the most important elements of a good mystery story? Why have you chosen to rank the elements in this order?

The Visual Ranking Tool makes the ranking process easy. With a simple click and drag, learners move items to any position in the list. Working in teams they collaborate and negotiate their reasoning. The Comment feature of the tool gives learners a place to record their rationale. After the teams have finished making their lists, they can compare their results with their classmates' versions and discuss the differences and similarities.

The Visual Ranking Tool displays how closely the lists match and shows the correlation between two rankings.

Prompts for ranking lists can have multiple uses when learners are asked to rank a list according to one set of criteria, and then again, using another set of criteria. This allows learners to gain insight into various perspectives.

The Visual Ranking Tool helps learners:

Analyze and evaluate items in a list by
- Identifying criteria for sorting
- Refining the criteria
- Prioritizing items in the list based on criteria
- Explaining their reasoning about priorities
- Making decisions by seeking consensus or negotiating new decisions
Compare lists visually by
- Examining and comparing reasoning for priorities
- Negotiating and adjusting ranking to explore correlation
- Seeing things from multiple perspectives
- Learning from each other
- Seeking consensus

Next: Proceed to Step 3 of Activity 5.1

Thinking with Technology Module 5 - Using the Visual Ranking Tool to Target Thinking Skills

	Activity 5.1 Step 2: Introducing List Ranking in the Classroom Learners brainstorm lists for everything from ranking their favourite songs to planning which option to consider. When learners rank one option higher than another, for instance, they do so by creating a personal set of criteria, narrowing the list of all options (at the conclusion of a brainstorm) to a few that meet their criteria, and then ordering the final list by evaluating how a particular option ranks relative to the others in their list. Any project that has learners prioritizing or choosing among options can benefit from the Visual Ranking Tool. Here are several prompts for Visual Ranking that learners might use in a variety of learning area / subjects and grades: Rank the items in this supply list in order of their usefulness when setting up a base camp and research station on the moon. Considering maintenance costs, size, temperament, and popularity, which animals would be good pets for the city? Put your choices in order. Rank the importance of possible features for our new public park based on the interests of the community stakeholder group your team represents. Which development choices have the LEAST effect on the river environment and trout population? Put this list of inventions in order of their importance to modern life. After research and debate, sign in as [2nd team name] and rank again. Compare your first ranking [1st team name] with your later ranking. What are the most important elements of a good mystery story? Why have you chosen to rank the elements in this order? The Visual Ranking Tool makes the ranking process easy. With a simple click and drag, learners move items to any position in the list. Working in teams they collaborate and negotiate their reasoning. The Comment feature of the tool gives learners a place to record their rationale. After the teams have finished making their lists, they can compare their results with their classmates' versions and discuss the differences and similarities. The Visual Ranking Tool displays how closely the lists match and shows the correlation between two rankings. Prompts for ranking lists can have multiple uses when learners are asked to rank a list according to one set of criteria, and then again, using another set of criteria. This allows learners to gain insight into various perspectives. The Visual Ranking Tool helps learners: Analyze and evaluate items in a list by Identifying criteria for sorting Refining the criteria Prioritizing items in the list based on criteria Explaining their reasoning about priorities Making decisions by seeking consensus or negotiating new decisions Compare lists visually by Examining and comparing reasoning for priorities Negotiating and adjusting ranking to explore correlation Seeing things from multiple perspectives Learning from each other Seeking consensus Next: Proceed to Step 3 of Activity 5.1