MIND MAPPING

Challenge and selection:

The first tool I used was the tool of Mind mapping, to achieve a shared understanding of a  problem space among a diverse group of stakeholders before attempting to identify and define  possible solutions to the problem. Mind mapping is a creative and logical means of note-taking  that "maps out" your ideas in free form. They are non-linear representations of how you connect  ideas and concepts. They are useful for creative thinking and brainstorming. All mind maps  have some things in common. They have a natural organizational structure that radiates from  the center and use lines, symbols, words, color and images according to simple, brain-friendly  concepts. Mind mapping converts a long list of information into a colorful, memorable and  highly organized diagram that works in line with your brain's natural way of doing things. The  illustrate associations between ideas or topics that radiate from a central theme, topic, or  concept.  Mind mapping assignments can increase student’s achievement and knowledge retention  because students are constructing knowledge. Mind maps help students learn information by  forcing them to organize information and allow them creativity by the addition of color and  images. These types of maps have been shown to lower extrinsic cognitive load because  students are creating a two-dimensional space to tie ideas and concepts together. They allow  students to create visual images to make information more meaningful and allow for deep  learning to occur.

Application:

Insight and approach:

Most students learned from conducting this exercise with several groups is that while the  graphic – especially the revised graphic that incorporates their feedback – is important for  reinforcing their understanding of the problem they are working to solve, the more valuable  aspect of the activity is the shared insights and shared learning that occurs while they are  working to define their problem space.

Instead of thoughtlessly transcribing what your teacher says, mind maps compel you to actively  think about what you hear and only write down the most essential pieces of information. The  mind maps give the diverse group of stakeholders a focal point for discussion that allows them  to share their perspectives and develop insights into potential root causes of their problems.   While they could create the graphic from a blank slate in a collaborative manner, starting with  a straw man jump starts the conversation for them.

Mind maps, however, are a much more effective tool when it comes to note-taking. Instead of  writing whole sentences, you stick to keywords and meaningful images. This way, you save  time both during the lesson and afterward when you go back to revise the material. They can  also identify variables in the problem space – that is, it helps them to identify what they don’t  know, in what areas they need to obtain information or data to provide the values for the  variables

