Mind mapping and block-diagrams in teaching English
From iProjekt
Various Web 2.0 tools were used for the course Computer-Mediated Communication at the Faculty of Organization and Informatics, University of Zagreb. Tools for mind mapping and block-diagrams (flowcharts) were used for student assignments during this course. The reason for their use was to develop skills in the application of web-based tools and services for diverse purpose, including online knowledge presentation, as well as to illustrate course related topics and facilitate peer-to-peer learning.
During the academic years 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 mind mapping and block-diagram tools were used for simple online pedagogical activities including the project e-tivity. Those activities were designed mostly having in mind cognitivist learning of course related content. For these online activities the Moodle system was used to provide written instruction and links to online examples. Then the use online tools and assignments were explained during exercises in a computer lab. The students had to start their work with online tools in class and finish it later at home. Finally, they placed the links to the created online artifacts in their diary of course activities in the blog tool.
For mind mapping the students used Bubbl.us and Mindomo and for block-diagrams the Gliffy tool was used.
In the academic years 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 the students were given assignments to explain and illustrate various elements of English grammar (the topics of grammar e-tivities were "Word building & functions", "Phrase", "Syntax", and "Other"/Miscellaneous. For instance, as a result of student online activity the "Acronyms/Abbreviations" word type was illustrated with two different mind maps, a flowchart, an online cartoon, and a tagged video (see first mind map created with Bubbl.us, second mind map created with Mindomo, and flowchart created with Gliffy.
Below is an example of the description of difference between "Acronym" and "Abbreviation" in English grammar on a wiki page together with a mind map created with Bubbl.us.
An example of an illustration of the difference between "Acronym" and "Abbreviation" in English grammar created with a mind mapping tool Mindomo.
A flowchart which explains the decision making process of differentiating between "Acronym" and "Abbreviation" in English grammar created with a block-diagram tool Gliffy.
