ICT as Mindtool (mind mapping)

Have you ever studied a subject or brainstormed an idea, only to find yourself with pages of information, but no clear view of how it fitted together?

This is where Mind Mapping can help me and my students .

Mind Mapping is a useful technique that helps students to learn more effectively, improves the way that students record information, and supports and enhances creative problem solving.

By using Mind Maps, my students can quickly identify and understand the structure of a subject. Students can see the way that pieces of information fit together, as well as recording the raw facts contained in normal notes.

More than this, Mind Maps help students remember information, as they hold it in a format that their mind finds easy to recall and quick to review. 

 Mind Maps are more compact than conventional notes, often taking up one side of paper. This helps students to make associations easily, and generate new ideas. If students find out more information after they have drawn a Mind Map, then students can easily integrate it with little disruption.

More than this, Mind Mapping helps  my students break large projects or topics down into manageable chunks, so that students can plan effectively without getting overwhelmed and without forgetting something important.

I think a good Mind Map shows the "shape" of the subject, the relative importance of individual points, and the way in which facts relate to one another. This means that they're very quick to review, as students can often refresh information in their mind just by glancing at one. When created using colors and images or drawings, a Mind Map can even resemble a work of art!

Mind Maps are useful for:

·         Brainstorming - individually, and as a group.

·         Summarizing information, and note taking.

·         Consolidating information from different research sources.

·         Thinking through complex problems.

·         Presenting information in a format that shows the overall structure of your subject.

·         Studying and memorizing information

MIND TOOL

My Example

http://ictmindtools.net/

Web Quest

I created a webquest and while creating the webquest, I found that students can benefit from learning when using webquests.

If a webquest contains a hook in its introduction this can motivate students to get engaged in the webquest and captures their attention. The webquest also has a structured format that can provide a step by step guide for students to achieve the goal stated in the webquest task easily as well as focus on achieving the goal without wasting time looking for appropriate resources on the web because these resources are provided to them by the teacher which are appropriate for their comprehension and reading level. From my experience as an IT teacher intermediate  education, I think students will benefit from using webquests in their classroom projects because it helps them acquire the employability skills posed by the vocational education like team work, planning and organizing, technology and learning.

Sample of WebQuest: 

http://www.sun-associates.com/hhsamp.html

Related Videos:
http://www.slideshare.net/yvette21/creating-a-web-quest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnJ2moNmbdk&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?