There are many ways and approaches which have much to offer to schools in individual circumstances, but from my own experience, I have found that “mind mapping” is both an innovative and a productive problem-solving tool.

So, what is Mind Mapping?

Mind maps are simply a tool for displaying and connecting information ideas by representing information visually instead of in the traditional linear written way.

They’ve been around for centuries of course, and in their basic form, consist of an idea or theme – represented by a word in the centre of the page – and branches radiating from it showing all the other ideas or themes which are related to it in some way.

Each of these sub-ideas may then in turn have their own “sub, sub- ideas” represented by more branches or even whole new maps of their own emanating from the centre.

I discovered mind mapping when I was at school 35 years ago, and found that by setting out my thoughts in a simple, “everything on one sheet of paper” way, it was much easier to remember things.

I just knew that if I organised my ideas and my notes in graphic form on a piece of paper, with branches and nodes, it helped me to learn better and now after more than 20 years of mind mapping on paper as a geography teacher and Head, I am delighted to find that technology has finally caught up with me and that software is now available. I have introduced MindManager software to teachers and pupils at the Dragon and found that it has been received in the same positive way

I also use it as presentation software as well. I have presented the school’s strategic plan after drawing it up as a mind map and I delivered it to parents using the software to show the expansion of thoughts from the central point. You can juxtapose ideas; on one side of the mind map one can place all the curriculum information and, on the other side, the extracurricular. People can start to see the logic and the balance of the curriculum in front of them, and the linkages between various elements of it.

Previously I wrote my speeches and presentations in linear fashion on paper, but using software, you can deliver it without notes because it is all there in your head. You can just picture your mind map and extemporise on the bullet points.

Outside the classroom, I use mind mapping to plan my working life. With a click of a mouse, you can put your ideas into separate branches and, instead of using scraps of paper and coloured pens you can formulate things in one place and drag ideas to where they fit best. It’s useful for shopping lists, moving house, lots of personal things. If you’re planning a 21st birthday party for your daughter, as we have just done, it is a fantastic way of setting things up.

Mind mapping helps users to gain insights into the connection and relationships between various parts of a problem with the resulting advantages of arriving at an ideal solution.

There are so many uses that I am still learning after 35 or more years and I learn something new about it every day!

www.mindjet.com
Tel: 01869 331680

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