Mind Mapping and the Collection of Children's Ideas
Internet applications that allow one to collect children's thoughts and ideas are a fantastic tool to quickly demonstrate and present them as a collection to the entire class. This can permit more time for class discussion and questioning to make children think more critically about their ideas and can encourage deeper thinking.
It is also a great way to support all types of learners. The discussion time supports audio learners, the visual learners are supported by the display of ideas by using such internet applications and kinaesthetic learners enjoy the actual collection of ideas and seeing the process from start to finish.
Internet applications include:
Bubbl - https://bubbl.us/
Primary Wall - http://www.primarywall.com/static/login.html
Wall Wisher/Padlet - http://padlet.com/
Wordle - http://www.wordle.net/
Corkboard Me - https://corkboard.me/jRZCew3YHQ
It is also a great way to support all types of learners. The discussion time supports audio learners, the visual learners are supported by the display of ideas by using such internet applications and kinaesthetic learners enjoy the actual collection of ideas and seeing the process from start to finish.
Internet applications include:
Bubbl - https://bubbl.us/
Primary Wall - http://www.primarywall.com/static/login.html
Wall Wisher/Padlet - http://padlet.com/
Wordle - http://www.wordle.net/
Corkboard Me - https://corkboard.me/jRZCew3YHQ
Here are just some of the ways that online resources can be used to collect children's ideas...
The two images below were created using Wall Wisher
The two images below were created using Wall Wisher
|
|
CorkboardMe
Here, I have used the online application, CorkboardMe as a tool to collect key vocabulary in Spanish. This is one particular way that a resource such as this could be used to help children with their writing.
The vocabulary could be displayed in each lesson and children could add to it each time they discover a new term. This then promotes discussion as a child could be expected to discuss the term, how they came across it and what it means. They could then say the word to the rest of the class and practise their pronunciation.
The post it notes below demonstrate how this type of resource can be used to support visual and kinaesthetic learners. Other tools could be used to support auditory learners such as sound buttons where vocab terms are recorded and they have the opportunity to listen to these at any point in the lesson.
The vocabulary could be displayed in each lesson and children could add to it each time they discover a new term. This then promotes discussion as a child could be expected to discuss the term, how they came across it and what it means. They could then say the word to the rest of the class and practise their pronunciation.
The post it notes below demonstrate how this type of resource can be used to support visual and kinaesthetic learners. Other tools could be used to support auditory learners such as sound buttons where vocab terms are recorded and they have the opportunity to listen to these at any point in the lesson.
|
|
|
|
|
When children see their work presented in such a way it can create a feeling of pride. They begin to realise that their work is valued and has great worth, not only to themselves but to the rest of the class.
It also provides variation in the class room - rather than simply writing ideas on the IWB, they can be beautifully presented. I did this, as above, where every child wrote their own line for a list poem. I then collected the ideas from each pair and we had created our own class list poem. The children felt extremely proud as they felt that it was more of a publication and we could go and find it on the Internet together.
It also provides variation in the class room - rather than simply writing ideas on the IWB, they can be beautifully presented. I did this, as above, where every child wrote their own line for a list poem. I then collected the ideas from each pair and we had created our own class list poem. The children felt extremely proud as they felt that it was more of a publication and we could go and find it on the Internet together.
