Interesting case study on using Mind Maps

Initiating Inquiry: Mindmapping and Fishbowl Discussions for Connecting and Building Background Knowledge
http://alalearning.org/2012/01/23/initiating-inquiry-mindmapping-and-fishbowl-discussions-for-connecting-and-building-background-knowledge/

Susan Lester’s 10th Honors World Literature/Composition students recently began a novel study of All Quiet on the Western Front.    Since students knew little about World War I, we gave students the opportunity to choose a World War I topic of interest to them ( a menu was provided but students could come up with their own topics, too) to research.  Susan and I decided to help students dwell in the connecting stage of inquiry by having students mindmap their research and then share those findings in a Fishbowl discussion group.  Using mindmaps that Howard Rheingold’s students created and published as our models, we gave students the choice for the tools and mediums they wanted to use to mindmap the key ideas and findings of their research on their topic.  Most preferred creating their mindmaps with concrete materials like paper and ink, but others like using Word or Bubbl.us.

I found this case study extremely informative on using Mind Maps to learn. Pay particular attention to the discussion groups, the reasons why the Mind Maps did not work so wel,l and the actions taken to rectify the situation.

Using Effective Reading to increase your English Vocabulary

(Effective) reading to increase your English vocabulary
http://speakspeak.com/learning-tips/reading-to-increase-your-english-vocabulary

Reading in English is a great way for learners to improve their vocabulary. By reading we can learn new words, and we can immediately see these new words in their correct context. We can also consolidate vocabulary that we have learned in the past.

Many learners, though, approach reading in English in the wrong way. If your method is bad, reading in a foreign language can be hard and boring. And if a subject doesn’t interest you, you will learn very little.

Here are six simple tips to help make your reading both enjoyable and effective.

Some great tips to improve your English vocabulary, if you are learning English as a foreign language.

You can use this with our English Grammar Mind Map Tutor (http://www.usingmindmaps.com/english-grammar-mind-map-tutor.html) to learn English more effectively.

By using different methods, you naturally use your brain more effectively and increase your chances of learning English faster and easier.

Hamlet Mind Map Tutor

Hamlet Mind Map Tutor
http://www.usingmindmaps.com/hamlet-mind-map-tutor.html

If you are learning Hamlet, then know that you are learning what is probably the best play ever written.
Hamlet is the most famous of Shakespeare’s plays and also his longest. Every famous actor throughout the ages wanted to play Hamlet and some did it better than others, even though they all thought they did him justice.

Hamlet is a complex character and needs an accomplished actor. Most actors that played him were too old. Hamlet was about 29-30 years old, but most actors are much older before they are accomplished enough to play Hamlet. There are even many cases where his mother is played by a younger actress than the prince himself!

Being such a complex play, it may serve you well to have a look at our approach to learning Hamlet.

In this fast paced world, there has been a change in learning behaviour. Shakespeare's plays are more difficult than ever for learners to grasp, as it takes a lot of time and effort, and fewer people are reading long and difficult pieces.

Lots of Study Guides and study material have therefore evolved to help learners. We found that most of them were still boring, linear notes.

We therefore decided to team up with an associate, Barbara Wellbeloved, to put together a set of Interactive Mind Map Tutors to help you learn Shakespeare's plays faster and easier.

Technology has made it easier than ever for you to get access to this kind of material quickly and affordably.

The power of Mind Map Software also makes it easier to put you at the centre of the learning process.

So, if you are a student of Shakespeare, or simply love his classical works, then get hold of our Hamlet Mind Map Tutor today and start interactively exploring and learning the play with whole brain learning methods.

Is Informal Learning the solution?

Harold Jarche » Informal learning, the 95% solution
http://www.jarche.com/2012/01/informal-learning-the-95-solution/

Informal learning is not better than formal training; there is just a whole lot more of it. It’s 95% of workplace learning, according to the research behind this graphic, by Gary Wise.

 Since the latter half of the 20th century, we have gone through a period where training departments have been directed to control organizational learning. It was part of the Taylorist, industrial model that also compartmentalized work and ensured that only managers were allowed to make decisions. In this context, only training professionals were allowed to talk about learning. But formal training, usually in the guise of courses, is like a hammer that sees all problems as nails. Unfortunately, these nails only account for 5% of organizational learning.

This article states that informal learning counts for 95% of workplace learning. I don't know whether it is as high as that, but I know that most of my learning in the last 20 years has been informal. In fact I felt that it is so important that I put together a learning management program (http://www.usingmindmaps.com/learning-management-program.html) that can enable you to learn faster and more effectively.

Having a system, even for your informal learning, can ensure that you have a competitive advantage. As Arie de Geus said: 'Your ability to learn faster than your competitors may be your only sustainable competitive advantage.'

I also suggest that you put together a Mind Map Learning Portal (http://www.usingmindmaps.com/mind-map-learning-portal.html) of all your learning resources for quick access to important and relevant information and knowledge sources. With Mind Map Software, you are able to make it interactive and access anything that you need at the click of a button (or the tap of a finger on your iPad).

Whatever route you take, ensure that you embark on a journey of lifelong learning today.

Create a Mind Map Learning Portal for each of your favourite subjects

The Mind Map Learning Portal

Learning Portals are more prevalent in bigger organisations, where Internet Technology is used to provide employees with a central place to manage all the knowledge they need to perform their duties.

While Learning Portals are normally websites and are mainly used by larger organisations, I feel that you could put together a Mind Map Learning Portal to keep all the resources for a particular subject in one interactive Mind Map.

I have provided a Free Template for you on our website to download and use with Xmind, which is free OpenSource Software. You can add hyperlinks to websites, videos, files, etc. and access them with the click of a button.

I also use this framework when researching a new topic.

What other uses can you think of?

via ScribeFire