Digital Project #2: Mind Mapping

 

The benefits of using mind mapping tools in the classroom are plentiful.  First of all, mind mapping tools allows students to organize their notes.  They also give students an overview of the topic. With mind maps, notes are all on one page, so students don’t have to search through several pages to find what they are looking for.  As I stated last week in the forum, research shows that 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual and that people tend to recall data better when visuals are involved. So, mind maps, especially when accompanied by symbols and pictures, can help students improve their ability to retain information. 

         Mind mapping tools can also benefit businesses.  Employees or management can use mind maps when giving a presentation, as mind maps can allow the staff to follow the speakers train of thought.  Mind maps can also be used as collaboration tools, where co-workers can brainstorm together.  As co-workers add ideas, it can spark an idea in another co-worker.  Plus, they can be used as a to-do list tool, pro or con list, or even a tool to list business ideas. 

                 

I had never heard of Mind Meister before this class.  Over the past year, I’ve had to create a few mind maps for classes and it had been a nightmare to say the least.  The first problem was trying to find a mind mapping tool for free.  I did eventually find one, however, for some reason it wouldn’t allow me to access some of the free tools.  I tried contacting the company, but they didn’t understand why either.  I eventually used Word, which was time consuming and stressful.  Mind Meister was very easy to use.  I think the most difficult part of the project was coming up with a topic.  Once I came up with the topic, I had to create headings and then subheadings.  After I had all that in place, I decided to add color to my mind map.  That was a little harder because I wanted to go with different shades of purple as we got further from the main topic.  I realized I had to use html color codes to ensure that the colors were the same.  I tried to use every tool available to me in the Mind Meister program, as to learn and to demonstrate that I understand how to use it. 

I believe mind mapping is helpful to students.  I recall a few of my teachers using them when I was in school, but I don’t recall a teacher ever recommending that the students use them.  I think they’re a brilliant idea.  When I pushed-in (as a tutor) to a high school government class, it was required that students take notes and then later, add pictures, graphs or any other type of visual aid to their notes.  They were graded on it.  It was during a test, that I learned that pictures, drawings, etc. really did help students retain information.  I was helping some EL students with their test and as I read each question to them, they were able to visualize the picture they drew and where they drew it on the page.  So, I believe that mind maps, with the different colors, symbols, pictures and text are definitely beneficial to students.  To quote from our reading “a mind map makes use of mental triggers (such as pictures, colors, and connections) to help your brain memorize things more easily.”

Teachers should use mind maps in the classroom when they feel that the topic is extensive and needs to be broken down or when they want to grab the student’s attention. Teachers can also use mind maps as a collaboration tool among students, as a brainstorming tool, or as a tool to collect information on certain topics or characters of books.  Actually, I think the uses of mind maps can be quite extensive, especially if you want to grab the student’s attention and keep them engaged.