MindGenius Mind Mapping Software Uses in Schools T: +44 (0) 1355 247766 F: +44 (0) 1355 200140 E: info@mindgenius.com W: www.mindgenius.com 1
Contents Introduction... 3 What is MindGenius?... 3 School Management... 4 Teachers / Classroom... 6 Students... 12 Assisted Learning... 15 Gallery of Additional School Maps... 17 Biology Study... 17 Physics Revision... 17 Periodic Table... 18 Class Presentation... 18 Class Talk Framework... 19 Collaborative Learning... 19 History Class Learning Session... 20 Essay Planning... 20 Lesson Planning... 21 Management Planning... 21 2
Introduction Mind Mapping has been used in Education for many years to assist with studying. With the advent of Mind Mapping Software such as MindGenius, its uses have become more diverse. MindGenius is tried and tested mind mapping software for Education, having been available since 2001 and over 500 schools use MindGenius in the classroom. This document focuses on a selection of customer stories at School level and intends to convey how MindGenius can be used by Management, Teachers, Students, and for Assisted Learning. It also contains an appendix with a gallery of maps of additional uses of MindGenius. What is MindGenius? MindGenius can be used throughout a school, for study, collaborative learning sessions and to help manage all tasks and projects and will help create a better organised, more stimulating learning environment across your school. Management School Management use MindGenius to develop a clear picture of how their school operates, to manage regulations and audits and develop plans for improvement. Teachers Teachers use MindGenius to create an environment within the classroom that encourages interaction and debate to aid collaborative learning. We have 3 real life classroom examples included in this section using MindGenius for a class discussion on anger management, using MindGenius throughout a school and using MindGenius to expand the use of ICT in a school. Students MindGenius can be used by Students to create quick and effective visual study notes, to plan essays and class talks and map out course work. Assisted Learning MindGenius can be used to support learners with Assisted Learning needs with course work, literacy and developing strategies to cope with specific Assisted Learning difficulties. 3
School Management School Management use MindGenius for a wide variety of tasks throughout the school, including mapping out the scope of running the school such as in the School Improvement Plan example below. MindGenius allows you to link all documents related to this to one central map and offers a visual view on what s required. Categorization can be added to show for example, classes covered by each teacher, curriculum topics and resources required for events. MindGenius is also used for daily activities in school including running Parent Teacher Associations and the school magazine. Whole School Improvement Plan 4
Section of School Magazine planning map 5
Teachers / Classroom MindGenius is widely used for collaborative learning in class, for example, the Edinburgh map below was gathered in a class brainstorming session where the teacher used MindGenius on a whiteboard and passed around a wireless keyboard in the class and everyone added their own ideas. This method is visual and encourages interaction and involvement from the students. In addition, MindGenius helps supports personalised learning to complement different learning styles gather and organize information generated in class and use as hand-outs or study guides helps students develop creative thinking skills presentations, essays and reports can be created directly from MindGenius maps Map gathered during a class brainstorming session Rita Carey, English Teacher, St Andrew's High School, Coatbridge, said: MindGenius helps develop pupils' skill in grouping related points together - a real advantage when it comes to writing critical essays like critical evaluations. Teachers can also use MindGenius for developing lesson plans, see example below. Working with MindGenius allows teachers to get a picture of their ideas and then refine, sort and organise them in the map format. This allows a clearer picture to be developed of how tasks will fit into the allotted time. 6
Lesson Plan template The examples below show three different uses of MindGenius within schools. Mind Mapping anger management classes re-engage pupils Using MindGenius has helped St Andrews High School in Coatbridge to get pupils with behavioural issues re-engaged and involved in classes. Former Head Teacher Harry Hughes used MindGenius as the platform for anger management classes to allow pupils to discuss their feelings and explore coping strategies. Working with the school, Mr Hughes recognised that using a visual medium would help him create a compelling foundation for getting pupils interest and attention. By logging the feedback, thoughts and concerns of pupils in a map they could see their contribution and felt compelled to interact. The students are now involved and engaged in classes. Harry feels that MindGenius allows students to see all the information in context, with words, pictures, links etc. They can see the value and relevance of their contributions and this helps them understand the subject more effectively. The software supports lots of different learning styles and helps every student feel like an equal. 7
Map from Anger Management Class Discussion This aspect of MindGenius seems to be what makes it particularly popular with teachers of students with learning difficulties and differences. MindGenius extends the use of ICT at John Ogilvie High School and helps improve attainment and achievement John Ogilvie High School is a six-year co-educational, Catholic comprehensive and is located in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. Its catchment area covers parts of Hamilton as well as Blantyre and Burnbank in the West of Scotland. They have been using MindGenius education for 10 years now, and in that time, its use has spread throughout every department of the school and is used by staff for management and planning and by pupils extensively across the curriculum. MindGenius has been a significant factor in extending the use of ICT across subjects. Its ease of use has motivated pupils to further develop their IT skills. The programme creates a level playing field for pupils of all abilities in presenting quality work and encourages them to go that bit further whether they are working on projects or revising for exams. The high school has around 200 PCs running MindGenius. It is used in all subjects to varying degrees throughout the curriculum, including science, maths, technical subjects, assisted learning and homework. The increased use of MindGenius has been helped by teachers each having a PC in their classroom, thereby facilitating the spread of ICT within the school. 8
Mr McGeever, a science teacher at John Ogilvie High School, uses MindGenius with his 12-year-old First Year pupils. He says evidence to show the improvement MindGenius has brought about in his pupils lies in what he sees day in day out in the classroom, and throughout the academic year, experience which he says indicates significant benefit for pupils of all levels. The end goal for the pupils in this class is to give a presentation in MS PowerPoint in front of their classmates. The only guidance they are given is in the topic; pupils then take charge of their own learning. They review previously learned work and begin their presentation in MindGenius, focusing on getting the content and structure right. MindGenius allows them to work in a format where changing and re-arranging information is simple and quick. Pupils can also use MindGenius features such as Output Tree, Layout and the Map Explorer to practise going through the presentation. The map can then be exported to MS PowerPoint where the focus moves from structure and content to making the presentation look good e.g. adding images, colours and scrolling titles. The pupils are confident and enthusiastic using the software, and even volunteer to give their presentation to the whole class. As the pupils applaud, Mr McGeever points out that the pupils seemed to have come to an unspoken understanding that each presentation should receive applause. The presentations are followed by constructive criticism, which again seems to be well received by the class. One of the best things that MindGenius has brought to this particular science class is its ability to include all pupils, no matter what their ability. For one particular dyslexic pupil, this has meant having the confidence to refuse the help of another pupil to read his presentation for him. Using the branches in MindGenius as a trigger, he is now able to confidently give his own presentation as an expression of his own achievement. MindGenius has caught on throughout the entire school, not just as a way to revise for exams but also for creating all kinds of work in different stages. In the science class, MindGenius was part of a process leading to a MS PowerPoint presentation. In Mr Jamieson s woodwork class, however, the map is the final outcome included in material sent to the SQA for evaluation. The pupils in the woodwork class use MindGenius to work around their brief, which in this case is the design for a table. Using MindGenius they are able to develop ideas and look at possible problems that might result from different choices. Pupils said MindGenius allowed them to think of more words and to bring ideas out of their heads. The benefit of this way of working, as opposed to with a traditional paper-based map, is clear when you look at examples of older work from past years. Paper maps often bear the signs of repeated corrections and illegible handwriting. Mr Jamieson says that in the past pupils were often frustrated and disheartened at having to restart maps or were unable to produce something that reached an acceptable standard. Using MindGenius maps, work can be amended and edited 9
electronically, and printed out in whatever format is most appropriate to the size of the final map. These MindGenius maps are then pasted into a folder containing diagrams and photographs of the final table for evaluation by the SQA. Using MindGenius in subjects like woodwork helps teachers to be innovative and also helps the quality of the pupils outcomes. Using MindGenius in the classroom keeps pupils interested and motivated and this is especially evident in pupils with behavioural or attention problems. MindGenius significantly helps lower achieving pupils to raise the level of their work. MindGenius is becoming part of the culture in John Ogilvie High School. The staff are really beginning to see tangible benefits for themselves and their pupils using MindGenius in the classroom. In a busy school environment where there are so many demands on people s time, it is hard to adapt to a new way of working. However with MindGenius intuitive easy-to-use interface and extensive benefits for both staff and pupils, it is being used for everything from lesson planning to reports and much more. Edmund McFadden, Deputy Head Teacher, John Ogilvie High School said: MindGenius creates a level playing field for pupils of all abilities in presenting quality work and encourages them to 'go that bit further' whether they are working on projects or revising for exams. Using MindGenius throughout a school Hamilton College is a co-educational Christian independent school for pupils aged 3 to 18. Currently the school community has around 650 children and young people in the Nursery, Junior and Senior Schools and around 100 teaching and support staff. Hamilton College has been using MindGenius for more than 5 years and it is available to all staff and pupils. Here Lynn Dobbie, Pupil Support (Learning) Teacher, talks about how MindGenius is typically used in the school: Lynn believes MindGenius helps support personalised learning to complement all learning styles. By its very nature, MindGenius software benefits and enriches learners experiences in the following ways: Visual learners can quickly build up a bank of information independently and format mindmaps appropriate to individual preferences. Auditory learners can use the software as a note-taking tool, convert mindmaps into Word documents then use additional text to speech software to extend their understanding and learning. Kinaesthetic learners benefit as they are actively engaged in their learning. The whole process of doing is paramount. 10
When ideas are first captured in class, it is often with a flat structure but as more ideas are added, common themes can become apparent and the teacher (or learners) can either drag and drop them into more appropriate locations, or categories can be assigned, like on the agenda below for a Prefect s meeting. On the example below, categories have been added to visually signify the day of the week decisions have been made, progress on a task as well as the chosen decision for the new duty structure. Prefect s Meeting Categorized Map At Hamilton College, there is a balance between whole class use of MindGenius and learners working independently. Pupils use MindGenius for developing mindmapping skills, extended writing planning, topic/project/oral talk planning, homework, revision, and meeting minutes. In addition, MindGenius is regularly used for strategic school planning, the School Improvement Plan (SIP) for example, has been presented to the Board of Governors, staff and parents and has been posted on the school s website using MindGenius. More generally, MindGenius is used in school by staff for lesson planning, meeting management, topic revision, planning/structuring PowerPoint presentations, giving feedback to pupils, collaborative working, and strategic planning. Introducing a new piece of software to a school can be a big decision to make, at Hamilton College the pupils were introduced to MindGenius through a rolling awareness raising programme involving pupils from J4 to S6, run by the Pupil Support (Learning) team in conjunction with class teachers in Junior School and Pupil Support (Guidance) team in Senior School. It s not only the pupils at Hamilton College who use MindGenius, all teaching staff have had inservice training on using MindGenius and around 50-60% of staff regularly use the software. Finally, Lynn also believes that MindGenius has enabled increased access to learning in Hamilton College as many learners store their MindGenius mindmaps on the Hamilton College Visual Learning Environment (VLE) Moodle. This is inclusive and can be used for a variety of purposes including revision, for other learners who would like to extend their knowledge and for others who have missed a lesson in class. 11
Students MindGenius helps create a level playing field for all students and to get their ideas out of their heads. MindGenius can be used to create quick and effective study notes, undertake thorough research and comprehensively plan essays and class projects. The example that follows focuses on a student who achieved such exam success with her MindGenius maps that she went on to start her own business selling study mind maps to help other students. MindGenius helps students: summarise a topic or a course in a visual format that helps build understanding improve memory recall by adding colour and pictures to study notes recognise relationships between ideas collate and group information from different sources create presentations, essays and reports directly from MindGenius maps Section of Essay Preparation Map One Standard Grade Pupil at St Andrew's High School, Coatbridge said: Before we did a Cell map I sat the General Exam and got a Grade 7(mark too low to score). After seeing a map being developed in class and using it to study I sat the Credit Exam (more difficult 12
level) and I got a Grade 1. The teacher read one of my answers out to class saying this was someone who clearly knows about the topic. Level 1 Branches Displayed of English Revision Notes Class Talk Preparation 13
Enterprising teenager uses MindGenius study maps to start her own business Tammy Strickland, aged 16, has been a MindGenius user since the age of 9, using it to improve her study technique, and she has found it so helpful in achieving excellent results that last year she set up a business, sharing her maps with other students sitting their Irish Junior Certificate exams. Her father, Niall, is a long term user of MindGenius, going back to Version 1 of the product and he introduced her to MindGenius. According to Niall, Tammy took to the method like a duck takes to water and since then she has actively used MindGenius to effectively study. After using the tool for her Junior Certificate examination programme over the last 2 years, Niall commented to Tammy that the quality of her work was of such a high standard, and the results she achieved in the exams so good, that she should sell her notes to other students. Tammy thought about her dad s idea and agreed that her MindGenius study notes could help other students going through their exams and, with a little help from Niall to set up the web pages, Tammy soon had her site, www.juniorcertmindmaps.com up and running. All of the maps and the work on the site are Tammy s and now it seems she is on her way to having quite a successful business. The first purchasable product went live in November 2009 and despite the fact that the business has yet to be fully publicised, Tammy has sold hundreds of mindmap sets to date and had several thousand downloads of her free sample maps. Tammy thinks that: "Mindmaps created with MindGenius are a terrific aid to memory because they allow you to feed your brain in a way that allows you to effortlessly soak up knowledge. This can turn average students like me into high-achievers." 14
Assisted Learning MindGenius is ideal for learners with Assisted Learning needs and can be used to support students with course work, literacy and developing strategies to cope with specific Assisted Learning difficulties. the process of building a map and disseminating information can help build understanding on any topic can be used to help classify information and work out the information to be included in essays and projects ability to add colour and graphics aids memory recall for all students good motivating tool for those who do not enjoy writing allows students to see all the information in context, with words, pictures, links etc. supports personalised learning to complement different learning styles Tina Reading, Learning Support Teacher, Alcester High School said: 'MindGenius has been used very successfully at Alcester High School. Students with general learning difficulties, Dyslexia, dyspraxia and Aspergers have found it really helpful in planning written work (either individually or as a class activity) and revising for exams. It is very easy to use and also a good motivating tool for those you do not enjoy writing. I would highly recommend it for students with special educational needs.' Mind mapping software and different learning styles Everyone learns differently and one common definition that is often applied in Education is Visual, Auditory and Kinaesthetic, often abbreviated to VAK. Visual learning applies to those people who learn best via pictures and diagrams; Auditory by absorbing information gathered from listening and Kinaesthetic via the process of doing. While many people may be able to operate across all 3 styles, some prefer just one but all 3 different learning styles can all gain benefits from using mind mapping software. Lynn Dobbie, Pupil Support (Learning) Teacher at Hamilton College believes: Visual learners can quickly build up a bank of information independently and format mind maps appropriate to individual preferences. Auditory learners can use the software as a note-taking tool; convert mind maps into Word documents then use additional text to speech software to extend their understanding and learning. Kinaesthetic learners benefit as they are actively engaged in their learning either on an individual basis or as part of a group since the whole process of doing is paramount. Visual learners can be particularly attracted to mind maps as it allows them to add graphics, colour 15
and images to their notes. These help stimulate memory for this type of learner, improving memory recall. The benefits for other types of learner may not be immediately as obvious but Auditory learners can benefit from the note taking process or collaborative learning sessions using the map where discussion plays a part of the learning experience. It might also help this type of learner to talk through the explanation behind each branch as they are putting their map together. An added benefit is that text to speech software can be utilised to consolidate learning. Since Kinaesthetic learners enjoy activities where they do something, building a map can help them to be engaged. Focusing on how the branches look can also help with the doing process. Alternatively passing round a wireless keyboard in class, or having pupils move around to add ideas to a map at the front of class can help. 16
Gallery of Additional School Maps Biology Study A Biology Cells study map that makes use of colour and images to aid memory recall Physics Revision Physics Revision Map summary outline of entire course 17
Periodic Table Chemistry Revision on Periodic Table with extra information in the Notes Field Class Presentation A slide created from a MindGenius map in the MindGenius presentations view 18
Class Talk Framework Class talk in 5 easy steps - framework provided to students Collaborative Learning Geography class brainstorm 19
History Class Learning Session History class learning session with pictures added to make it more visual Essay Planning Undertake research and add file attachments and links to the map 20
Lesson Planning PE Lesson Plan Management Planning High Level improvement plan the branches can be expanded to explore in more detail 21