One of the best thinking tools I have discovered is called by different names by different people - concept webbing or mindmapping. Basically, it is a way of thinking throught the related ideas and issues to a specific concept, and showing relationships.
It can be used to take notes, to study, to solve problems, and many other uses. It is particularly useful for visual learners. For me the benefit of using concept webs or mind maps over using bullet points or traditional note taking methods, is that it is easier to show relationships that are not linear. The way we as educators often present information through powerpoints and outlines, creates the illusion in students that the world is linear and all information occurs in a linear fashion. We know that it is not true. The world of knowlegde consists of many interrelated topics and concepts, and mind mapping allows us to show the non linear nature of information.
Mind mapping was popularized by Tony Buzan. You can see a 5 minute videoclip of Mr. Buzan talking about his process here:
You can see more of Mr. Buzan's process on his website: http://www.imindmap.com/.
There are other options available. Wikipedia has a very good description of the concept at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map, and a list of software at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Mind_Mapping_software
Teachers are probably familiar with Inspiration and Kidspiration software (http://www.inspiration.com/)
A mind mapping tool I really like to use, is cmap developed by the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC). It is available for free download to people who work in educational institutions from http://cmap.ihmc.us/.
Try using this method of thinking through topics and issues.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Technology Resources
Three great new technology resources you can use:
1. Open Educational Resources Commons
Their blurb says: "OERs are teaching and learning materials that are freely available online for use by everyone, including instructors, students, or self-learners. The site's mission is to provide a single point of access through which educators, students, and all other types of learners can search for, browse, evaluate, and discuss these resources."
Look at the resources at: http://www.oercommons.org/
On the site, you can search bycategories or collections, subject area or grade level. You can create your personal portfolio where you can easily access materials you specify.
2. School Web Lockers are web-based storage “lockers” for users to store school related files that can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection. Each student is given 100MB of storage while teachers and administrators get 1GB. Many schools are now finding these lockers an excellent solution. Students are constantly struggling with a place to store file for a length of time. A teacher can simply upload one document and post it in every student’s locker instead of making some 30 copies of the same assignment. In turn, students can complete the assignment on the computer and upload the document into the homework due folder, which is then sent directly to the teacher. Files never override each other, so if 20 students turn in an assignment called homework1, all 20 files will appear in the teacher’s locker as homework1. Each document has the user’s name next to it and the date it was uploaded. It’s a paperless work of art.
http://www.schoolweblockers.com/
3. Curriculum Wikipedia - Curriki
Another open curriculum resource. Teachers from all over the world is using it to post curriculum units. It takes time to delve through, and sometimes the lessons are not appropriate for US students if itis written in other countries, but grear source of ideas.
http://www.curriki.org/
1. Open Educational Resources Commons
Their blurb says: "OERs are teaching and learning materials that are freely available online for use by everyone, including instructors, students, or self-learners. The site's mission is to provide a single point of access through which educators, students, and all other types of learners can search for, browse, evaluate, and discuss these resources."
Look at the resources at: http://www.oercommons.org/
On the site, you can search bycategories or collections, subject area or grade level. You can create your personal portfolio where you can easily access materials you specify.
2. School Web Lockers are web-based storage “lockers” for users to store school related files that can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection. Each student is given 100MB of storage while teachers and administrators get 1GB. Many schools are now finding these lockers an excellent solution. Students are constantly struggling with a place to store file for a length of time. A teacher can simply upload one document and post it in every student’s locker instead of making some 30 copies of the same assignment. In turn, students can complete the assignment on the computer and upload the document into the homework due folder, which is then sent directly to the teacher. Files never override each other, so if 20 students turn in an assignment called homework1, all 20 files will appear in the teacher’s locker as homework1. Each document has the user’s name next to it and the date it was uploaded. It’s a paperless work of art.
http://www.schoolweblockers.com/
3. Curriculum Wikipedia - Curriki
Another open curriculum resource. Teachers from all over the world is using it to post curriculum units. It takes time to delve through, and sometimes the lessons are not appropriate for US students if itis written in other countries, but grear source of ideas.
http://www.curriki.org/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
