The combination of Mindmapping and WebQuest
Mindmapping is a
popular graphical thinking tool. It uses the radioactive thinking of the human
brain to guide students to think actively. Every kind of data that enters the
brain can become a center of thinking. The center will be radiated outward and
become thousands of joint points. Each joint point represents a link to the
central theme, and each link can become another central theme. Then tens of
thousands of joint points are radiated outward again. The mindmapping uses images
and text to express the relationship between the themes at each level, which
can help to learn and remember.
The purpose of
WebQuest is to set up a bridge from accepting learning to autonomous learning.
It is a teaching model that enables students to use the online learning
environment to actively explore and construct the meaning of knowledge.
Students “rediscovered” and “recombined” knowledge creatively in the process of
knowledge inquiry. Setting a clear goal for a WebQuest requires students to
review the knowledge they have acquired and to motivate students to explore
further. By setting up “anchor” and building a “scaffolding” strategy, students
can obtain the fusion of emotional experience, knowledge internalization and
literacy in the process of inquiry.
If we combine
mindmapping with WebQuest, what will happen?
Some scholars
have pointed out some advantages of combination:
1) Students can
focus on key knowledge points.
2) The mindmapping
conforms to the natural thinking mode and effectively integrates the students'
old and new knowledge.
3) The "think-recognition
feedback loop" combined with mindmapping and WebQuest can effectively
avoid the "infinite loop of thinking".
As shown above,
mindmapping is a good way of radioactive thinking. In order to avoid
unintentional thinking, we limit the radiation of mindmapping to a specific
range, which is set constraints or anchor points, to guide students in
traditional classrooms. Combining with WebQuest tools, students explore and
discriminate creatively to find the next joint point of mindmapping. In the
end, a clear mindmapping is drawn to improve the students' ability to use the
knowledge they have learned to solve problems.
Reference：Chen Jichao, Mou Zhansheng, Feng Nana, 2011, Research on the
WebQuest of Mindmap Teaching Model Based on JITT
Jialu,
ReplyDeleteYou always do a great job at connecting what we're learning in class to your topic, so once again great job. I think this one is very good because I always think its good for students to understand the key points of the topic, and that is the first point that you make when the two are combined. I can't wait to learn more, thank you.
-Michaela
Jialu,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I have always learning something from your post! I am very impressed that you combined the WebQuest with mind mapping. Your did a very good research on how mind mapping work as scaffolding to help learner review and reorganize their knowledge and process the new knowledge as well. I would like to know more about this. Thanks for sharing!
Yang Liu
Jialu,
ReplyDeleteAn interesting post! I was immediately intrigued as I am easily distracted. I like the concept of linking mindmapping and WebQuest to keep learners on track to their next point or to arrive at their desired location. Far too many times I have been drawn off course by other distractions and have spent countless hours on material that did not contribute to my topic, but this notion of keeping the learner engaged with key anchor points coupled with WebQuest seems promising. It's a great concept. Thanks for a great post.
--Lisa
Jialu,
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting topic. The mind is a fascinating tool and using anchor points combined with WebQuest seems like a good way to keep students on track and focused. I am notoriously terrible at remember names and I have found a similar technique of linking the person's name to a well known actor, comic book character or movie character to be very helpful. So, I can seen the benefit. Thanks for the post.
Chuck
jialu,
ReplyDeleteGreat post once again! I think you have always done a great job at connecting your topic back to class discussions and I really appreciate that!
Marianna