Challenge and selection: As a student, there have been many times where the amount of content that I  would have to memorize and internalize is tremendous. Sometimes, I would not have enough time to go  through everything and at first, I kept failing my tests. Eventually, through the help of my teachers and  mentors, I realized that the problem was my learning method and how I studied. I placed too much  pressure on myself to internalize every single word in every single paragraph and that was the reason  why I was not doing very well. Then, I discovered mind maps. It worked wonders. Even now, I use mind  maps for a variety of things such as work, planning events, organizing thoughts and for mentoring  students. As a teacher, I find that some of my students face the same problem I did back then, either  with work or with personal problems. Thus, when they come to me for help or advice, I always use  mind-mapping to help them out. Mind mapping is a diagram tool used to visually organize information  and I find that when our thoughts are in a mess, mind mapping is always helpful to organize thoughts  and ideas especially in a visual form on paper where links and connections between thoughts can be  made. Sometimes, solutions would be staring us right in the face and we just do not know it as our  thoughts are jumbled up in our brains.

Application: So when students come to me for help, I start off by asking them what the main problem is  and write it down in the middle of a blank sheet of paper. I usually have several different coloured  markers in front of them to choose from. The different colours also help them to visualize the  connections better. After that, we branch out from the main topic and go into the details of the problem  or issue. Usually, we start off with reasons why the student thinks the problem occurs, followed by how  the student feels, and his/her thoughts on it. I then ask the student what he/she thinks some of the  solutions are and then we go into the pros and cons of each decision and I would then leave the student  to make his/her own decision. I think this is a very effective way (and colourful) to visualize thoughts and  organize ideas. It also helps to calm the student down and relieve a huge weight off their shoulders  when everything is laid down in front of them and when they are guided by someone. Most of the time,  the student walks away with a laid out plan of what to do and an understanding of the consequences,  both good and bad of each decision.

Insight: Before this course, I never knew mind-mapping was one of the design thinking tools. This course  really gave me some insights on how to help both my students and even myself out in various situations.  Even though I use mind mapping a lot with my students, I often find myself in the same situation as  them and sometimes mind mapping does not immediately come to mind and I think this reflection has  made me realise that these design thinking tools can really be used in any situation and I am definitely  going to be applying the knowledge more to my everyday life.

Approach: As mind mapping has been proven to work very effectively with my students, I will be  continuing to use mind mapping as a design thinking tool. However, I will be incorporating the other  tools in my lessons more often and conducting small experiments to see if they work well with the  students. In addition to that, I will also be using the tools in my life as well as each tool has its own pros  and cons and thus work well in different situations. Thus, the only way is to try them out for myself and  find out the best tool for myself in the various situations I may face in future.


Challenge and selection : As a student , there have been many times where the amount of content that I would have to memorize and internalize is tremendous . Sometimes , I would not have enough time to go through everything and at first , I kept failing my tests . Eventually , through the help of my teachers and mentors , I realized that the problem was my learning method and how I studied . I placed too much pressure on myself to internalize every single word in every single paragraph and that was the reason why I was not doing very well . Then , I discovered mind maps . It worked wonders . Even now , I use mind maps for a variety of things such as work , planning events , organizing thoughts and for mentoring students . As a teacher , I find that some of my students face the same problem I did back then , either with work or with personal problems . Thus , when they come to me for help or advice , I always use mind - mapping to help them out . Mind mapping is a diagram tool used to visually organize information and I find that when our thoughts are in a mess , mind mapping is always helpful to organize thoughts and ideas especially in a visual form on paper where links and connections between thoughts can be made . Sometimes , solutions would be staring us right in the face and we just do not know it as our thoughts are jumbled up in our brains . Application : So when students come to me for help , I start off by asking them what the main problem is and write it down in the middle of a blank sheet of paper . I usually have several different coloured markers in front of them to choose from . The different colours also help them to visualize the connections better . After that , we branch out from the main topic and go into the details of the problem or issue . Usually , we start off with reasons why the student thinks the problem occurs , followed by how the student feels , and his / her thoughts on it . I then ask the student what he / she thinks some of the solutions are and then we go into the pros and cons of each decision and I would then leave the student to make his / her own decision . I think this is a very effective way ( and colourful ) to visualize thoughts and organize ideas . It also helps to calm the student down and relieve a huge weight off their shoulders when everything is laid down in front of them and when they are guided by someone . Most of the time , the student walks away with a laid out plan of what to do and an understanding of the consequences , both good and bad of each decision . Insight : Before this course , I never knew mind - mapping was one of the design thinking tools . This course really gave me some insights on how to help both my students and even myself out in various situations . Even though I use mind mapping a lot with my students , I often find myself in the same situation as them and sometimes mind mapping does not immediately come to mind and I think this reflection has made me realise that these design thinking tools can really be used in any situation and I am definitely going to be applying the knowledge more to my everyday life . Approach : As mind mapping has been proven to work very effectively with my students , I will be continuing to use mind mapping as a design thinking tool . However , I will be incorporating the other tools in my lessons more often and conducting small experiments to see if they work well with the students . In addition to that , I will also be using the tools in my life as well as each tool has its own pros and cons and thus work well in different situations . Thus , the only way is to try them out for myself and find out the best tool for myself in the various situations I may face in future .