Thinking with Technology

Activity 7.2

Step 4: Viewing the Benefits of the Seeing Reason Tool

Now that you have dug deeper into a project that uses the Seeing Reason Tool and gained a better understanding of ways to help learners understand cause and effect, review the benefits of using Seeing Reason in the classroom.

Benefits of the Seeing Reason Tool

Learner Benefits:

The Seeing Reason Tool is simple to learn so learners can get right to identifying and organizing factors and their relationships.
The no-frills simplicity of the tool is intentional—learners can focus on important content instead of the "bells and whistles" of the tool.
The design of the maps make thinking discussible and encourages verbal communication among learners and between learners and teachers.
The Comments feature of the tool provides learners and teachers with an easy way to communicate about the map's progress, as well as to document those discussions.
The use of the Seeing Reason Tool supports mathematical reasoning and understanding across the curriculum through the use of logic, critical thinking, and the visual representation of direct and inverse relationships.
Learners are required to use precise language in their identification of causal factors and the evidence that supports the relationships.
Maps can easily be saved as image files in order to insert them into other documents or presentations.
The Seeing Reason Tool supports investigation that occurs in cycles of evidence gathering, map building, and reflecting.

Teacher Benefits:

Teachers can view every version of each team’s maps to see the changes and progression of their thinking, ideas, and research.
A Portfolio Folder is available for teams to save maps at important project milestones identified by the teacher.

Next: Proceed to Activity 7.3

Thinking with Technology Module 7 - Using the Seeing Reason Tool to Target Thinking Skills

	Activity 7.2 Step 4: Viewing the Benefits of the Seeing Reason Tool Now that you have dug deeper into a project that uses the Seeing Reason Tool and gained a better understanding of ways to help learners understand cause and effect, review the benefits of using Seeing Reason in the classroom. Benefits of the Seeing Reason Tool Learner Benefits: The Seeing Reason Tool is simple to learn so learners can get right to identifying and organizing factors and their relationships. The no-frills simplicity of the tool is intentional—learners can focus on important content instead of the "bells and whistles" of the tool. The design of the maps make thinking discussible and encourages verbal communication among learners and between learners and teachers. The Comments feature of the tool provides learners and teachers with an easy way to communicate about the map's progress, as well as to document those discussions. The use of the Seeing Reason Tool supports mathematical reasoning and understanding across the curriculum through the use of logic, critical thinking, and the visual representation of direct and inverse relationships. Learners are required to use precise language in their identification of causal factors and the evidence that supports the relationships. Maps can easily be saved as image files in order to insert them into other documents or presentations. The Seeing Reason Tool supports investigation that occurs in cycles of evidence gathering, map building, and reflecting. Teacher Benefits: Teachers can view every version of each team’s maps to see the changes and progression of their thinking, ideas, and research. A Portfolio Folder is available for teams to save maps at important project milestones identified by the teacher. Next: Proceed to Activity 7.3