Thing 14

Mind maps vs flow charts ... can't say that I have a preference for one or the other.  I find that there are times were mind maps are more appropriate for the through processes that I am going through than flow charts, and vice versa.

For this thing, I looked at flowchart.com and mindmeister.  I found both to be simple to use and intuitive enough to learn.  However, for me, I personally like an app. that I have been using for the past year called MindNode.  It is very similar to mindmeister, but allows you to convert your mind map into a flow chart.

For class, I find mind maps to be the better choice, because I don't feel as constrained when I am putting together a lesson.  Typically I will create a mind map first, then upon reflection of it, convert it to a flow chart before I make a final draft of my notes for a class.  I find the flow chart to be a more organized form of my charts than the mind map.

With my students, often times I will have them take a small section of notes or chapter of the text book and create a mind map of the ideas presented.  I like to to this before I lecture or discuss the content with them, because it exposes them to the terms and they are able to see for themselves how ideas and concepts are connected and related.  I recently did this with the rock cycle, and then had them expand it with each of the rock types.  

I don't know how useful I personally find each of the tools in this exercise, but I can see their potential from a collaborative standpoint.  For me, I tend to fall back to the old pencil and paper mind map.  I just like the feel of it.  If I know it will be too big for notebook paper, then I will use my MindNode app.