This is a mind map that I created with bubble.us to use on the first day of class. It breaks school down into to two categories, class and socializing, and then breaks those categories into smaller categories. Mind Maps are really cool - they allow you to break down complex information into smaller categories in a very visual way. They also allow you to see (literally) the relationships between ideas. Creating a mind map forces you to consider these relationships, and organize the information accordingly.
Flow charts, like the ones you can create with gliffy, are a little different. They give you more flexibility, but they are also harder to use. I found gliffy especially hard to use, to the point that I even got a little discouraged. This is a case where there is almost too much flexibility. I much prefer to create a mind map, and I had a great experience with bubble.us
What do you think? Do you find it helpful to create a mind map to break down complex ideas into smaller pieces? Or do you prefer to create a flow chart?
I hate both. I enjoy the randomness and complexity of complex thoughts and ideas. Though, organization is good thing. I should pretend to love them for students' sake, huh?
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