K-W-L Charts

K-W-L chart is a three-column graphic organizer that provides space for participants to record what they Know, what they Want to know, and what they have Learned. K-W-L charts are an easy way to activate participants’ prior knowledge and get them to set an intention for their learning. You can start the activity as a brainstorming session and use the chart to record information gathered or ask participants to fill them out individually. At the end of a lesson or module, participants can reflect and record their new, expanded knowledge in their own words.

One drawback to a K-W-L chart is that participants sometimes recall incorrect information, and it may be a challenge for them to let go of their misconceptions.

Instructions

How to use a K-W-L chart:

  1. Create a blank K-W-L chart following the example and make a copy for each participant. Or ask participants to fold a piece of paper into three sections and label them Know, Want to Know, and Learned.
  2. Ask participants to brainstorm the words, phrases, or terms they associate with the topic and record them in the Know column.
  3. Ask participants to record what they want to learn about the topic, in the form of questions, in the Want to Know column. Ask for a few volunteers to share their learning intentions with the group.
  4. As a review activity, ask participants to share the new knowledge they recorded in the Learned column, as well as their “ah ha” moments and unanswered questions.
  5. Provide resources to assist participants in locating additional information to answer unresolved questions.

Example

Figure 35 shows a K-W-L chart based on David Cornish’s NHI “Instructor Development Course” training presentation, “Diving Inspection Intensity Levels.”

Know Want to Know Learned

Basic visual and tactile techniques for underwater bridge inspections

What do I need to do and look for at the different levels of inspections? How are the procedures different for piers and pilings?

Level I:

  • Detect obvious damage/deterioration of the total exterior surface
  • Detect undermining or exposure
  • Limited probing

Source: Cornish (2018).

Figure 35: K-W-L chart for “Diving Inspection Intensity Levels”

Instructor-Led Training

A digital option to printing paper K-W-L charts is to create and share a fillable PDF form that participants can complete on their laptops or smart phones. An alternative to participants working individually is to create a K-W-L chart as a whole group activity. You can record the results of a brainstorming session on one piece of easel paper labeled Know. Then ask for volunteers to share their areas of interest and record them on a second piece of easel paper labeled Want to Know. At the end of the module or lesson, refer to the Want to Know list and ask for input from volunteers to complete the Learned list.

Web-Based Training

You can create and share the K-W-L chart using free online form-building software to gather information on participants’ background knowledge and areas of interest. If the course is hosted on a learning management system (LMS), you can create a K-W-L chart on a wiki or other collaborative writing platform or have participants complete and post a K-W-L chart on the course discussion board.

Web Conference Training

One option is to create and share the K-W-L chart using free online form-building software. Another option is to use the web conference platform’s chat feature to gather information on participants’ background knowledge and areas of interest. Depending on the size the group, you can also consider asking participants to create and post a K-W-L chart on one (or three) PowerPoint slide(s) and post them to the web conference platform.