Matrix1
The Importance of Matrices
My MOST favorite Carl (that would be Berger) loves using Matrices and so do I.
No, not THAT Matrix. I am talking about the one that you use to organize information.
I use matrices in tow ways, for organization of content and for assessment. This posting will speak to organization.
If I am really lost in a text book, I open Excel and start categorizing content like crazy.
- It’s like reading the knower’s notes. All of the important stuff is right there.
- It is like a double check for the doers. They can confirm that yes, they did get the material.
- For the thinkers, it helps define relationships, and it shortens the material, which makes it easier to gather thoughts.
I cannot over emphasize the importance of the last statement. When someone does not understand what they are reading, a big block of text is like, well, like Matrix Reloaded. It just goes on and on and you are really trying to figure out what is going on and make some meaning, but you can’t. In the case of Reloaded, there was no point. But in your course, there is. The images below are from the Organization Culture by Joanne Martin. BTW, it’s a very good book. The example I chose defines three theoretical perspectives that can be found anywhere, but the words she wrote resonate in the halls of academia: (the scribble scrabble is mine. I’ll talk about writing in the margins soon.)
Straight Text: 
Organized text:
I am sure you are saying, “No DUH”, but take time to look at the text books and articles you assigned and see if they use matrices as a way to convey the same knowledge in a different way.
You need to help your learners find meaning; to do this you should, where possible, provide the same information over and over again. This repetition helps learners shape the meaning and understand it from different perspectives.
What’s the Workbook Connection? Matrices can co-exist with text. It’s “OK” to repeat information, especially when it can be presented in a different way. Workbooks should be full of, among other things, matrices. If you feel that it is “cheating” because you are “giving” the students the “answer” don’t fill in all of the spaces, or present a blank matrix and have them create their own categories.
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