In today's world, it is essential to have tools that allow us to organize, synthesize and assimilate the information we consume on a daily basis. One of the most effective resources for these tasks is the synoptic tableUsed in both educational and professional settings, its ability to structure ideas hierarchically makes it an invaluable tool for learning and analysis.
What is a synoptic table?
Un synoptic table It is a graphical representation used for organize ideas in a hierarchical mannerThis resource allows you to visualize the relationship between a central topic and its main and secondary concepts, highlighting which ideas are most important and which depend on others. The information is presented in a staggered manner, which facilitates understanding and memorization.
The synoptic table is also known as synoptic map o key scheme, because one of its most common designs includes the use of keys to connect ideas.
Main features of the synoptic table
Unlike other graphic tools of the same family, such as mind maps or concept maps, the synoptic chart has a unique structure that follows a clear hierarchy. Here the characteristic elements are highlighted:
- Hierarchical structure: Place the main idea at the top or left and develop derived secondary concepts that are unfolded as the information is detailed.
- Using curly braces or lines: “Keys” or tree diagrams are commonly used to connect concepts.
- Conciseness: Information should be accurate and brief, using keywords or short phrases.
- ease of reading: Its graphic format facilitates a quick overview of the entire topic, allowing for a global understanding of the content in an agile manner.
Benefits of the synoptic table in the study process
One of the greatest benefits of the synoptic table is that facilitates the organization of information in a clear and concise manner. Its main advantages are listed below:
- It helps to visualize the hierarchical relationship between concepts.
- It is an excellent tool to summarize and highlight the most important aspects of a topic.
- It allows you to study in a structured way, dividing a topic into subtopics.
- Facilitates memorization and understanding by representing key data through graphics.
In turn, the synoptic table simplifies the creation of oral or written presentations, as it provides a clear structure that can be used as a basis for developing arguments or demonstrations. By presenting information graphically, both teachers and students can quickly identify the relationships between concepts and capture their essence.
Types of synoptic tables
There are different types of synoptic tables depending on how the information is structured. The most commonly used types are described below:
1. Key synoptic table
This is the most common format. In this type of flowchart, the main ideas are located on the left or at the top, and secondary ideas are derived from them, which are connected by brackets.
Example:
2. Diagram synoptic table
In this format, ideas are organized vertically, using flowcharts to represent the hierarchy of main and secondary ideas. Content is displayed from top to bottom.
3. Network synoptic table
This type of flowchart is ideal for topics that feature interconnected relationships between concepts. Unlike linear hierarchical structures, this format allows for more flexible and creative visualization of information.
How to make a synoptic table?
To create a synoptic table, it is necessary to follow a series of steps that help to correctly structure the information:
- Read and interpret the material: Read carefully the content on which you are going to create the synoptic table.
- Identify the main ideas: Write down the most important ideas and organize them hierarchically.
- Write a topic sentence: The main idea should be summarized in a short sentence that functions as the heading of the table.
- Classify the information: Classify the information into main, secondary and accessory ideas.
- Incorporate the ideas into the outline: Use brackets, lines, or arrows to represent the relationship between concepts.
By following these steps, the synoptic table will not only organize the information clearly, but will also help improve the understanding of the topics studied.
Synoptic table vs. conceptual map
Many people tend to confuse the synoptic table with the conceptual map, but there are important differences between the two:
- The synoptic table follows a rigid hierarchical structure, while the conceptual map allows greater flexibility in the organization of information.
- In a flowchart, ideas are connected using keys or arrows, while concept maps can connect nodes of information in any direction.
- The synoptic table is mainly used to summarize and organize information in a hierarchical manner, while conceptual maps are more useful for showing relationships between ideas regardless of their order.
Both tools perform complementary functions, being useful for different stages of learning and the organization of ideas.
Applications of the synoptic table in education and other fields
The synoptic table has applications not only in the academic field, but also in the professional field. Its main uses include:
- In education: Facilitates the synthesis of information for studying and preparing for exams.
- In presentations: Helps to structure the key points of a presentation, facilitating the visualization of the ideas to be presented.
- In planning: In the workplace, it allows you to organize projects and tasks in a schematic way, showing the different phases and subphases into which the work will be divided.
Advantages of the synoptic table
The use of synoptic tables has numerous advantages, including:
- Clear organization of ideas: Being a visual format, it allows complex information to be summarized in a simple way.
- Facilitates memorization: Its hierarchical structure helps to remember information in a more organized way.
- Versatility: It adapts to both simple concepts and those that require a greater degree of detail.
Thanks to these advantages, the synoptic table is considered a valuable tool in education, both for students and teachers. It is useful for communicating in a clear and concise manner the main ideas of a text or a lesson, simultaneously addressing different levels of depth depending on the case.
Finally, the synoptic chart remains one of the best tools for organizing knowledge. Its visual structure allows complex ideas to be assimilated in a simpler way, making it a highly effective educational and work resource today.