Creativity in the curriculum LEARNING MATS Sue Morgan, ICT Consultant MIND MAPPING

Aims Understand how to use and create mind maps (revisit?) Be able to use Inspiration to create mind maps To have an overview of the purpose of learning mats and their construction To begin to create learning mats to support science work

Bellwork Write down One thing you are comfortable with about the day One thing which is outside your comfort zone!

What is mind mapping Easy way to get information into and out of the brain Brain friendly way of making notes (of ideas) and taking notes (of information) Made up of WORDS, colours, lines and PICTURES

Why do mind maps? Mind maps can help you to: Remember better Organise thinking better Have more ideas Making learning more enjoyable Make better use of time

Why is it brain-friendly? Close your eyes and remember your last holiday….. the places you visited… people you met…. the things you did….

Because………. We don’t think in straight lines, our thoughts take us all over the place, radiating in all directions We think in colours and pictures Writing in straight lines is a left-brain activity

Left & right brains Words Logic Syntax Sequence Linearity Analysis Lists Details Rhythm Awareness Imagination Images Colour Daydreaming Dimension Whole context

How does mind mapping help? The brain works best when both hemispheres function in harmony Mind mapping combines the words, order of things and details with images and colour – ‘BIG PICTURE’ Many children can only learn well when they know the whole context Mind maps keep you focussed on the main idea and all the additional ideas Radiant notes can be turned into linear writing

Structure of Mind maps Expression of Radiant Thinking Powerful graphic technique Subject as central image Main themes radiate from central image as branches Topics of lesser importance represented as branches attached to higher level branches The branches form a connected nodal structure

Exercise 1: Brainstorming Words

Exercise 2: Brainstorming images

Inspiration Software

14 Learning Through Learning Mats

To have an overview of the purpose of learning mats and their construction To begin to create learning mats to support science work

Learning mats are part of the learning environment for the subject area They create a ‘safe’ environment by providing context and support in advance of the learning

Learning mats help pupils to connect to previous learning, provide them with the big picture, provide reminders of key information They can be a starting point for learning and identify other sources of information

Learning mats enable pupils to check their own progress against learning outcomes and through a topic Provide a tool for reviewing learning

Construction of Mats Left brain learners side –Linear with use of words –Prefer a step by step approach –Order and sequencing Right brained learners side –Presents the whole picture

Items to Include A concept map to give the whole picture Key learning points and outcomes Key vocabulary, messages and images Exemplification of ideas Useful web sites

Get Practical Pick a science theme/topic Plan the content Find web sites Create a concept map for your theme Add the rest of the content