I have just realized that mind mapping is alive in my son’s primary school classroom.
Yesterday I created a mind map of the things that I wanted my boys and I to achieve by the end of the day. I drew the mind map on my 5 year old’s white board just after breakfast and then gave him the option of what we would do first. My son then spontaneously wrote a title showing that he understood exactly the purpose of the mind map.
Later in the day my son said that his teddy, George, needed a wash and reminded me that George’s nose needed sewing up.
I suggested he added it to the mind map, which he did. He drew a picture of George, a sewing needle and a washing machine. I was particularly impressed as everything else I had penned were words and I hadn’t even suggested he drew a picture.
My son’s current teacher does use a wordy mind-map-type diagram to describe what the children will be doing each term, but I had never asked how this is shared with the children, perhaps I should!
Here is a blog post that describes the first steps to getting started with mind mapping.
However, as you read it, bear in mind that brainstorming is only one application for this powerful tool.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
excellent! youngsters pick up MM much quicker than adults! Its just a shame that so many more people don’t MM, particularly in the early years at school.
Teachers MUST be taught this during ITT as far as I am concerned
Great article! I have used mind mapping to help the Headteacher and Leadership Team of a comprehensive school agree the strategic direction for the school. The top level short and medium term objectives set the framework for the School Improvement Plan.
Thanks for your comments Tim and Rhys.
Inspired by you both I am starting to think seriously about incorporating mind mapping formally into the ‘realizing vision’ programme we are currently developing for school leaders.