Mind Mapping Software for Schools
Mind Mapping in the Classroom
If you are a teacher or educator who is looking for creative teaching methods and an effective strategy of assessing children’s knowledge and understanding of a topic then Mind Mapping provides a powerful and transparent method of teaching and assessing childrens abilities in the classroom
Mind Mapping is particularly useful when carrying out a Pre and Post Topic assessments of a module or subject. Pre and Post Topic Assessment through the use of Mind Maps can be an affective way of establishing how much knowledge a child has absorbed over the course of a module and what gaps may exist in their knowledge after that module has been completed. This approach is useful for both children with high or low abilities of all ages.
If you are a teacher or educator who is looking for creative teaching methods and an effective strategy of assessing children’s knowledge and understanding of a topic then Mind Mapping provides a powerful and transparent method of teaching and assessing childrens abilities in the classroom.
Mind Mapping is particularly useful when carrying out a Pre and Post Topic assessments of a module or subject. Pre and Post Topic Assessment through the use of Mind Maps can be an affective way of establishing how much knowledge a child has absorbed over the course of a module and what gaps may exist in their knowledge after that module has been completed. This approach is useful for both children with high or low abilities of all ages.
A system Tony Buzan calls Preview and Review enables you to preview and then review a students knowledge of a topic. For example using a Mind Mapping template ask a child or class of children to create a Mind Map on the specified Topic before the module and then you ask them to create a Mind Map based on their entire understanding of the topic and the knowledge they have gained at the end of the module. Comparing the two can provide a valuable insight into their learning development and help establish which areas need further work and which learning style is best for them. Also problem areas can more easily be highlighted due to the way Mind maps arrange information.
Help can be given by providing Mind Map templates with main branches supplied. Mind Mapping templates can be used by children to explore all their existing knowledge of the topic. The child should already have some knowledge of the topic which may have been gained via books, the media, other subject areas or their own general knowledge.
Start by asking them to think about the topic and then ask them to map out their initial thoughts using IMindmap. Promote the concepts of using images, imagination, association and connections as these methods have been found to be the most successful way assisting memory and creativity.
Mind Maps help to interpret and express ideas and they suit assessment as they can help students to think metaphorically. This type of thinking has proved to be a successful way of interpreting and expressing complex ideas and concepts.
As your class completes the module you can conclude the topic with your own detailed and complete mindmap which should contain an entire summary of the topic or module that has been taught. Using this approach will enable you to determine more effective how much each pupil has learned and recalled.
Using IMindmap you can save their Mind Map and use it as a detailed source of evidence for post assessment later.
IMindMap is a software tools that can greatly assist Pre and Post Topic Assessment as it contains a number of features geared towards teaching and assessment in the classroom. It also enables you to easily create Mind Mapping templates that can be printed out and given to a class or tailored toward different individuals with different learning ability’s.
Mind Maps and Non English speaking children
Mind Maps do not rely on language or writing ability and are practical for students whose native language is not English or students who may lack good linguistic ability. Relying on their knowledge rather then their language level can provide a valuable means of testing non language dependent abilities.
Benefits for Visual and Kinesthetic learners.
Mind Mapping is ideal for Visual and Kinesthetic learners. Children who are Kinesthetic learners learn better by actually carrying out a physical activity like drawing their ideas. Students associated with this predominant learning style are thought to be natural discovery learners; they discover through doing. The kinesthetic learner usually does well in things such as chemistry experiments, acting and sporting activities. They also may listen to music while learning or studying.
Visual learners learn best when associating ideas, concepts and other information with images. Visual learners tend to have good instinctive direction and can easily visualize objects.
MindMaps work well for visual and Kinesthetic learners as they learn through images and can visualize how the different ideas and concepts are associated by forming the connections themselves. Imindmap makes it easy to include images, symbols and branches that link information in visual form.
Beneficial for different types of learners.
Mind maps give different types of leaners the opportunity to excel and are usefull for gifted children as they do not place limitations on their learning but allow them to develop their creativity in limitless ways.
Mindmaps give context to the ideas that are being taught as students have a visual representation of how topics and sub-topics are associated. This is because Mind Maps are structured in such a was the key ideas are arranged nearer the centre of the Mindmap and the keywords representing sub-topics are placed further from the centre.
Imindmap which has was created with the help of tony Buzan (inventer of mind Mapping) and has been created to best utilize these methods and techniques for learning and assement purposes. Imindmap was created with children in mind and is the most easy to use Mind Mapping software tool. Imindmap follow all the best pracitices and principles of Mind Mapping.
IMindMap teaching ideas
- Pre-assessment
IMindMap fully supports the use of projectors or interactive white boards and is also fully compatible with tablet PCs. Using full screen mode so that the Imindmap workspace fills the whole screen you can create a map and get the whole class involved. A truly organic mind map can be formed with different students coming up to add their own ideas. IMindMap’s flexible approach means that branches can be added and removed. Notes can be written and images inserted easily. Relationship arrows can connect ideas, sketches can be drawn and highlighted clouds can give prominence to particular areas. This is ideal for children with lower ability. It also promotes inclusion and fuels students imagination ready for you to start teaching the topic.
- Post-assessment
Instead of getting students to create a map from scratch get them to restructure a pre-made one. Firstly you will need to create a mind map for the topic and then restructure it using the click and drag features so that all the ideas are based around the central image but in the incorrect order. Give this to the students and ask them to restructure the map into something with meaning. This can lead to class discussion or enable children to self assess themselves.
IMindmap makes this easy due to the click and drag features that enable you to move branches from one location to another.
Further applications Mind Mapping for assessment.
Once your students have completed their post assessment task, their Mind Maps can be used for extension work or projects. Here are some ideas of how you can turn assessment into other areas of the curriculum. Why not get your students to create a presentation of the Mind Map by exporting it into PowerPoint. Using the Branch ordering tool in IMindMap it is easy for children to deliver a presentation individually or as a small group.
- Extended writing.
You can use the Export to word feature in IMindMap which exports all text in their mind maps in a structured way so that they already have the beginnings of Report, Essay or experiment or newspaper article. Ask them to complete the writing with their understanding of the topic .
Wallcharts.
By printing out the post assessment mind maps you can use them as wall charts for the class room.
The tile printing option will enable you to print larger poster style maps. They can even take these home to put on their bedroom walls.
Coursework
The completed post assessment mind map could form part of the students coursework.
Revision Aids.
Students personalized mind maps could be used as ideal revision tools or recap aids. They provide a summary of the topic or module which can be referred to later or before an exam.
Summary
Mind Maps provide a realistic representation of Students knowledge. This makes Mind Maping a reliable, expressive and transparent method for assessment for all types of students.
IMindmap makes the whole process easier and is a flexible tool in teaching and assessing children knowledge and understanding of a topic.