by Judith Morais

Created on: September 05, 2010

The Venn diagram is one of the simplest yet powerful teaching tools to address learning needs in just about every context that calls for the exploration of similarities and differences. It helps facilitate the development of thinking skills by encouraging learners to visually break down information into their various components. The use of the Venn diagram also allows for the verbalising of thought processes as learners share how they have broken down information into its components.

This graphic tool comprises two or more overlapping circles each representing different items such as “dogs” and “cats”.  The distinct qualities of each item are placed in its corresponding circle.  Their common qualities are placed in the intersecting area formed by the overlapping circles.

The Venn diagram is simple to use within any learning context.  It can be found on every educational site offering graphic organisers for the classroom. Some sites (see below for some links) offer you the sophistication of allowing you to key in the categories to be included in each segment of the chart before being printed as a handout for the class. Online versions are also available. But the tool can be executed easily within the classroom. In the classroom with a whiteboard or blackboard, place two concentric circles on the board, overlapping slightly. This simple tool can then be used for whole class discussions of the concepts being discussed.  To facilitate group discussions, the diagram can simply, and very quickly, be drawn up on large presentation papers. 

The Venn diagram was initially created by John Venn and published in 1880 to teach mathematical concepts.  It lends itself to the development of logical intelligence, often associated with mathematics but evident in many subject areas from literature to science where patterns in information are sought.  Logical intelligence is just one of the 7 multiple intelligences first highlighted by Howard Gardner who pointed out that we all have the resource of the various intelligences but some are stronger than others in each individual . Within the educational context, it is ideal to teach to each student's learning styles but it is also important to develop intelligences that may not be as pronounced. The Venn diagram can be used to develop these other intelligences. Students who learn visually benefit from being able to use their linguistic intelligence to articulate their thoughts and develop their spatial intelligence, where mental images of the information required can be formed quickly. Tactile or kinaesthetic learners benefit from being able to manipulate learning objects and learn actively. Use hula hoops or ropes on the ground as the circles and get students to actively get involved in the process of identifying similarities and differences. Students could write out the identified qualities on colourful sheets of paper and stand in the appropriate section of the hula hoop.  

The Venn diagram is more than just a tool to generate ideas; it is an aid to developing thinking strategies and crucial learning skills all our students need as they are actively involved in learning within the social environment of their classroom.

Some links to Venn Diagrams:

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/graphic-organi zers/venn-no-lines.pdf

http://www.teach-nology.com/platinum/samples/graphic org/index.html

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/graphic-organizers/ printable/6293.html

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/st udent-interactives/venn-diagram-circles-30006.html

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