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What
is Mind Mapping?
Mind
mapping is a strategy for helping students order and structure their
thinking through mentally mapping words or/and concepts. Mind maps
were developed by Tony Buzan
as a way of helping students make notes that used only key words
and images. They are much quicker to make, and because of their
visual quality much easier to remember and review. The difference
between concept maps and mind maps is that a mind map has only one
main concept, while a concept map may have several.
What
is its purpose?
This
strategy helps students quickly relate a central word or concept.
The mind forms associations almost instantaneously and 'mapping'
allows you to write your ideas quicker, using only words or phrases.
How
do I do it?
To
make a mind map, start in the centre of the page with the main idea,
and work outward in all directions, producing a growing and organised
structure composed of key words and key images. Key features are:
- Organisation
- Key
Words
- Association
- Clustering
- Visual
Memory - Print the key words, use color, symbols, icons, 3D-effects,arrows
and outlining groups of words
- Outstandingness
- every Mind Map needs a unique centre
- Conscious
involvement
Mind
Maps help organise information. This can allow students to develop
a strategy for note-taking, creative writing, report writing, studying
the easy way, studying as a group, meetings, think tanks and can
allevaite writer's block.
The
Process
- Teacher
models the process with prompted contributions e.g. a mindmap
for 'Myself'
- Children
extend their ability to make contributions
- Children
begin to work through the process with increasing independence
perhaps with the support of the main/smaller branches
Improving
Your Mind Maps
- Use
single words or simple phrases for information
- Print
words
- Use
colour to separate different ideas
- Use
of symbols and images
- Use
shapes, circles and boundaries to connect information
- Use
arrows to show cause and effect
How
can I adapt it?
- For
use with a large group as a brainstorming session
- As
a Whole Class
- Cut
out strips and circles from cardboard. Discuss the main topic,
write on a circle of cardboard and place on the middle of
the mat. Each child gives a main idea about the topic, and
goes away and draws this idea on another circle of cardboard.
Each child also writes several words about their main idea
on separate slips of cardboard. As children finish, the mind
map is assembled on the mat with connections being made with
the strips of cardboard. This can be stapled to the wall.
- Individually
- Each
child has a sheet of newsprint, folded in quarters. Discuss
the topic. The children draw or write this in the centre of
the paper. One main idea is discussed and the teacher models
by developing one branch of a mind map. The children go away
and in one quadrant, draw their ideas about this main topic.
The class then come together again and discuss another main
idea. This is then drawn on the next quadrant. Continue until
the four quadrants have been completed. Links and connections
do not need to be emphasised although some children will put
them in as a result of the teacher's modelling.
Teacher
Resources
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