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Helping learners to learn with mind maps

I don't know what happens with your students in your classes but my students do not know how to study. When they study they do it by heart and repeat like parrots the information given without understanding what they are saying. So I think it is time to start teaching them  effective ways of studying.
In my opinion, mind maps are a helpful tool when it comes to recalling information since they are a visual representation of a pice of information.
The creator of mind mapping is called Tony Buzan  and he is a British psychologyst. He's an expert on the brain, memory, creativity and innovation. 

Why are mind maps so useful?
  • Your brain thinks in colours and pictures. If for instance I tell you the word "elephant", you will inmediatley get the image of the animal in your brain.
  • Your brain doesn't think in straight lines, that is why writing a list of words to remember vocabulary will not help.
  • A mind map connects the main idea to its subtopics. This is a useful way to organize your thinking.
The mind map helps students to:
  • Brainstrom a concept and come out with awesome ideas
  • Go from a general idea into a more specific one
  • Save time
  • Revise before an exam
  • Have fun
How to make a mind map?

1. Write a word in the middle of a blank sheet of paper that summarizes your subject. Add  a picture in the middle of the page that represents your main topic
2. Draw some curved lines coming out of the main idea. These branches represent the sub topics of your main idea. Write key words for these subtopics and if possible draw a picture for each of them. 
3. From each of these ideas you can add more branches coming out of them. These additional branches are the details.


Try these apps/websites to make mind maps with your students

https://bubbl.us/

http://popplet.com/

https://www.mindmup.com/

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