KWL Chart Template

About the KWL Chart template

A KWL chart allows you to guide your audience through learning a concept by breaking down the learning process into three steps: what you already know, what you want to know, and what you learned.

What is a KWL Chart?

A KWL chart is a learning tool that helps guide people through an educational session or reading. It was created in 1986 by Donna Ogle as a chart for students to improve their learning progress. 

All KWL charts have three columns: What I Know, What I Wonder, and What I Learned. You begin your session by taking stock of what you know. Then, record what you want to get out of your session. Last, you record what you have learned.

When do you need a KWL chart? 

Let’s take a look at the two common scenarios where using a KWL chart can be helpful: 

• To help students: KWL charts can be a helpful tool for students to learn new concepts and be accountable for their learning. They can be clear about what they already understand and reflect on what they’ve learned about a specific topic of study. 

• To support employees: As a business leader, the KWL chart can help staff learn and retain new information. They can also return to the chart later to refresh their memory. 

Although these are the most common use cases, a KWL chart is helpful whenever you need to learn something new and retain knowledge. It helps you track the learning process, starting with what you already know, what you hope to learn, and what you did learn. 

The bottom line is that a KWL chart is not limited to these two situations. It’s a versatile template that can be used for a variety of reasons. 

How do you fill in a KWL chart template? 

Filling in a KWL chart template is a pretty straightforward task. Follow these steps to see for yourself: 

Step 1) Add what you already know in the first column. Begin by listing everything you know about a topic and recording that information in the What I Know column. This will solidify your starting position and help you identify gaps in your knowledge. 

Step 2) Outline what you want to know in the second column. Generate a list of questions or statements about what you want to know in the What I Wonder column. These statements will guide your learning to give you direction throughout the learning process. 

Step 3) Summarize what you learned in the final column. When you’ve completed your training, lessons, or research, you can outline what you’ve learned in the What I Learned column. Use these statements to review what you learned in comparison with what you wanted to learn in the second column.  

In some charts, you might come across a fourth column titled How will I learn? This would go between the second and third columns. In this column, you’ll outline the steps you plan to take to develop your learning. Whether that’s conducting research online, speaking to a manager, or having a discussion with a faculty member — this is where you’ll outline your actionable steps. 

Benefits of using an online KWL Chart template 

If you want to save yourself time, using an online template could be the way to go. You don’t have to worry about creating it from scratch. You simply have to select the template and add your information to the columns. 

Let’s take a look at a few more reasons why using an online template can make your life easier.  

• Collaborate and share your chart. If you’re using an online template, you’ll be able to collaborate with your colleagues. With Miro, you can share the template with other users. People can add comments and other visual notes so you can collaborate effectively on the same chart. 

• Update information in real-time. Using an online chart makes it easy to update the information and make changes. If your chart is on a blank sheet of paper, you’ll need a pen and a lot of scribbling to make changes. But with an online template, all you need is a few clicks and taps on the keyboard, and your chart has been instantly updated. 

• Customize the template. Platforms like Miro have a lot of features and functions that allow you to customize existing templates. You can change fonts, add new text, upload files, add shapes, and even add additional columns to your template if you want to. As a result, you can create a template that’s perfect for your needs.