Free Resources from the Net for EVERY Learner

As I mentioned in my previous post, Jane’s E-Learning Pick of the Day is one of my sources for resources.  I particularly appreciated Jane’s post of last Saturday, in which she highlighted a post from Mind Map Inspiration entitled 100 Reasons to Mind Map.  I wasn’t aware of  Paul Foreman’s excellent blog on mind mapping.

Mind mapping is an essential component in any approach that attempts to meet the learning needs of every learner (see UDL).  Mind mapping offers countless effective ways for learners to build understanding, to express  what they know, and to share their creativity.  For teachers, mind maps can be an engaging way of  presenting information.  Many, if not all,  benefit tremendously from the visual representation of connections.

Many of us who are teachers, however, are relatively good with words; so the potential of mind mapping probably doesn’t spring readily to mind as often as it might.  That’s why I’m delighted by Paul Foreman’s helpful list of 100 Reasons to Mind Map. I encourage you to explore Paul’s entire list, but here are the first 10 reasons that he has listed:

1. Explore a subject
2. Study & learn a new topic, culture or country
3. Plan your schedules
4. Innovate & invent
5. Create new ideas
6. Expand existing ideas
7. Tap your unique talents
8. Increase your brain power
9. Consolidate your existing knowledge
10. Summarise your skills

I’ve written here in the past about several effective free mind mapping programs as well as some excellent online applications.  If you want to explore some of the many options that are available, please check out Jane Hart’s list of 34 free and commercial ‘Mind Mapping and Brainstorming Tools‘.