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prowsey57
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Registered: 5/20/2008 Warnings: 0

A variety of uses for model mapping
I'd love to here how anyone is using model mapping in primary classrooms. I tend to us it as preparation for writing as it allows kids to organise their thinking and gives a great scaffold for paragraphing.

5/20/2008 10:33

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oliver
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Registered: 2/22/2008 Warnings: 0

Terry,
Primary teachers report a wide range of uses for model mapping in their classrooms. I'll just offer you a limited list here and if you want me to expand on any of them, let me know. Or ask me about a particular context where you'd like some ideas. Here's the short list:

1: LESSON PLANNING: incorporating the details into the main ideas (branches), along with teaching and assessment ideas. This becomes a working model you actually use and can share with your pupils. These should be stored into a central place where other teachers can re-use or adapt it.

2: COOPERATIVE LEARNING: in our new WiseGuide to Model Mapping, you will see a few visual examples of how you can organise and focus cooperative learning around a developing model map. In short, arrange home groups around the a model map and assign members to a particular branch. Do this for all the home groups (who have an identical 'bare' map with only the main branches developed). Now group the experts together, focused on their single branch. This becomes the centre of their own map which they have to develop through research. When this is completed, they create a copy each and bring it with them on return to their original home group. The model map becomes the focus for their presentation of ideas to the others (and their focus of listening and understanding). When all experts have reported, the information is assimilated into the original all encompasing model map. By the way, after you see the visual explanation of this process, and compare it to this list of words, you really understand why it's better to <go visual>.

3: REVISION: go to the iDEAS section of the web-site and you'll be able to download a free Powerpoint document that shows you, visually, how to use model mapping for vastly improved memory for tests and exams. While you're there, you'll see other iDEAS on other applications of model maps. And also the use of other visual tools.

I hope that's enough to get you going. Let me know how it's going, if you find other applications to share, or if you want more details.

Good luck and keep up the curiosity (the engine of learning)
Oliver

5/25/2008 18:10

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Ian Harris
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Registered: 3/13/2008 Warnings: 0

Terry,

Just to throw a couple of more ideas into the pot...

1. Literature for parents
A primary school I worked with in the Black Country nr Birmingham re designed their parental literature by transforming the linear curriculum descriptors into model maps... the children in older classes were then on hand during parents evenings to talk them through with the parents of younger children

2. Interactive display
Why not start off a display on a particular topic by providing the main branches and then ask the children how they can best summarise and 'capture' their learning by adding to the display. Great for review.
Same method can be adapted for use with interactive white board where teacher interacts with children to develop the map at various stages of the topic... a record of the classes learning

Hope this gives you some more ideas!

(Last edit:: 9/18/2009 15:30)