A synoptic table is a style of visual expression of texts or ideas widely used as instructional resources that relate the logical structure of information. They are tactics to organize content in a condensed and simple way. A synoptic table shows the various elements, contrasts, details and connections of the investigated topic, which allows observing the logical structure of the content, readjusting the concepts and ideas and teaching information in an orderly manner. Synoptic tables are used in the student area as a study tool or to simplify teaching.
What is a Synoptic Table
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The synoptic table or table synthesis, is a visual way in which texts or ideas are expressed, they are widely used in an instructional way since they communicate the logical way of the content. They establish a general and coherent structure of the topic with the different relationships between its aspects, their main objective is to compare the similarities or differences between the variables of a topic. This definition of a synoptic table is usually the one used to explain its meaning to children, as it is easy to understand.
These facilitate the learning of ideas in a synthetic way, without allowing the student to get confused, since when incorporated through the system of keys and capture the style of a diagram, or when visualized organized in columns and rows, it allows a reading and easy compression.
A synoptic table deals with a diagram in which texts or ideas that are to be analyzed in a limited way are graphed, through the use of keywords that are located in boxes and that are interconnected by means of lines, which can possess or not connectors.
They are usually represented by braces and are in the form of diagrams, however braces are not always necessary as it can simply be a hierarchical diagram. For its construction it is necessary to follow some steps that must be followed thoroughly.
Knowing what a synoptic chart is and what it is used for is very important for professional and educational development. It is generally used as a method to organize ideas quickly and efficiently, making it much easier to understand. It has a structure, since it is based on a specific topic and the different relationships that it could present.
Within the educational aspect, the synoptic table or also called synoptic map is a tool that is handled for the teaching and learning of ideas or concepts, in a synthetic and orderly way.
Preventing the learner from being confused, since being represented through a system of keys and using diagram forms, or being organized in columns and rows, allows it to be easily read and understood, therefore the definition of a synoptic table within education it is so relevant.
This type of graph is very useful for the mind, when it comes to memory, since it is very easy to remember the key words that are in it and from there develop the initial concept of it.
Another aspect that distinguishes this type of map is the ranking according to the relevance of the concepts by placing the keywords in a table, or failing that, putting them in the diagram with a font size greater than rest, going from the simplest, to the deepest of the subject.
What is a Synoptic Table for?
Today there are various methods and techniques to study, which can be very effective. It has been proven that teaching methods can offer a better result within the educational and work environment. Through these techniques, various aspects can be improved, such as a person's memory, creativity and skills.
These tables are used to organize in a practical, simple and schematic way the content of a specific topic. In the academic field it is used as a tool to teach, as well as within the work and professional space. With them it is possible to establish ideas or concepts that are used within beneficial projects.
It can then be said that thanks to these information that would otherwise have been incomplete can be obtained, it also serves as an exercise in visual memory, since it orders the information in a simple way, not to mention that it allows comparisons to be made. For these reasons it is very important to know how to make a graphic chart, as it can be very useful in different areas.
Characteristics of a Synoptic Table
- The ideas that are used are always related and must be well structured and well organized.
- Organize from the main topics, complementary ideas or subtopics, to the less relevant details and examples of them.
- The graphing is done by means of tables and keys, always taking into account the hierarchy.
- You usually have 3-4 main ideas.
- Shows the relationships between the elements that make it up.
How to make a Synoptic Chart
To know how to prepare a synoptic table it is necessary to follow a series of parameters, however, these should not be considered as definitive, since each scheme will be different from the other, it is even possible that there are complementary ideas that delve into another idea. Some may have more levels, which will be determined by the content used and its complexity.
Elements necessary to make a Synoptic Table
- Study topic and the subtopics that comprise it.
- Texts or other sources from where the information will be obtained.
- The variables they present, such as the relationship between them or any other relevant detail for a better schematization and description.
- Complementary ideas.
- Details of secondary ideas and data that could be important.
- Connections between ideas and concepts.
Procedure for making a synoptic table
To understand how to make a synoptic table referring to a specific topic, it is necessary to follow some steps so that the information can be explained in an orderly and logical way. Next, the guidelines to follow for the elaboration of a graphic table are described.
- The first thing that must be done is to read the information to be posted slowly and in detail, since it is extremely important to accurately understand the subject and be familiar with it since it will be represented on the synoptic map.
- then it is necessary to review the information and the allusive text, extracting the central and main ideas from there. The most advisable thing is to prepare summaries of all the content and discard the information that is repeated, to make the table more efficient.
- Subsequently, words should be assigned for the main concepts that have been highlighted within the information.
- locate the central idea with which the topic being addressed is described, in order to establish it as the title of the table, said idea can be presented in the introduction, development or conclusion of the analysis.
- In this step, a relationship between the concepts must be established in an orderly manner, in order to better understand the main topic. It is from the central concepts that relationships and concepts are established.
- What follows is to make a sketch of the painting, where the main idea is pointed out and the connections are established. It starts with the general concepts.
- Another step is to add complementary secondary ideas to the main ideas, the latter being in charge of explaining the general concept in a certain way.
- Finally, what is done is to introduce the complementary ideas, plus the details that contribute to the explanation of the subject more effectively.
Examples of Synoptic Tables
A synoptic table can be based on any topic, as long as it complies with the steps mentioned above, among the most common examples we can mention the summary table of contamination, where the types of contamination and the elements are usually indicated. that produce it.
Another case is that of the classification of animals, pointing out vertebrates and invertebrates and pointing out the species that are included in these subtypes.
