Religious Education and Mind Mapping
Mind Maps are used within the Religious Education (R.E.) department in order to help pupils increase the quality of thinking and understanding. They assist in systems thinking, allowing a visual representation of an overview, showing connections and facilitating the synthesis of ideas. They are helpful for creative thinking, allowing Pupils to access multiple intelligences and generate new ideas.
The Mind Maps help them to organise ideas, both their own and those of other people. They help them organise information from books, lectures and videos. Creating Mind Maps increases memory and learning.
Such visual learning techniques - graphical ways of working with ideas and presenting information - teach the R.E students how to clarify their thinking, and to process, organise and prioritise new information. Visual diagrams reveal patterns, interrelationships and interdependencies. They also stimulate creative thinking.
Pupils within the department have used them effectively for revising for exams. They have been encouraged to create their maps and hang them on the wall in their own bedrooms.
Exams
The pupils have practiced throughout the year how to use a mind map when answering an exam question. When the actual exam comes along they are encouraged to spend some time creating a mind map from the question before they attempt to answer it. This technique has proved very successful.
Methodology
After some initial instruction the pupils have some practice in making their own personal mind maps. They work on individual maps and the best are collated to produce a class mind map. Their new found learning technique is then gradually applied to essay writing and note taking. The 'Class mind map technique' is used for every new unit.
Technology
The group are encouraged to use The Learning Centre's ICT facilities in their approach to mind mapping. This has several advantages:
- Visual learning such as webbing, idea mapping, and concept mapping are beneficial for students who express themselves visually, and for those who learn more effectively through the use of visuals, audio, and other multimedia techniques. Inspiration(r) and Kidspiration(r) www.inspiration.com make it easy and fun to implement these techniques.
- Integrate new knowledge
Such software helps pupils updated their mind maps throughout a lesson, prompting students to build upon prior knowledge and internalise new information. By reviewing diagrams created previously, students see how facts and ideas fit together. Mindmapping also shows us what the students know whilst misdirected links or wrong connections reveal what they don't understand.
Mindmapping Inspiration
Powered by the proven techniques of visual learning, mindmapping strengthens critical thinking, comprehension, and writing across the curriculum.
Pupils
Student Benefits
- A Creative Thinking experience to learn and develop from
- The ability to apply Mind Maps to class work, study, revision and examinations
- Motivation for all - from the gifted to the disadvantaged
- An insight into your own creative genius at all I.Q levels
- The ability to integrate the use of your whole-brain skills
- An interest in the subject being taught
- Effective note-taking
- A realisation of your mental potential
- Improved communication
- Easier and more enjoyable learning
- A greater sense of achievement
- Improved concentration
- Better grades
Problems
Some pupils found it difficult at the beginning to leave behind the old fashioned method of linear note taking.
Through a developed programme of mind mapping techniques the pupils came to understand, appreciate and value the importance of mind mapping and the role it plays in their learning. Pupils' essays were much improved and any mistakes which were as a result of their mind maps were quickly recognised and rectified.
"I found it difficult at first, but after some practice it all made sense"
James, S6
"Brilliant! Mind mapping in R.E has helped me in other subjects too"
John, S6
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