Resource 2: How mind maps can help mathematics teachers and pupils
Background information / subject knowledge for teacher
Mind maps can help mathematics teachers to:
- plan sections of the syllabus, topic and lessons in a way that is coherent and systematic;
- identify and plan activities;
- introduce new concepts to pupils in an interesting way;
- promote better understanding of concepts;
- focus pupils’ attention on key aspects of a learning programme;
- facilitate learning for tests and examinations;
- organise information that pupils are able to identify and relate to;
- help find out pupil’s misconceptions;
- evaluate pupils’ understanding of concepts and topics;
- plan remedial teaching;
- determine how much of a topic is understood
Because concept maps can be drawn by pupils themselves they are a useful tool for learner centred education.
Mind maps can help pupils to:
- summarise their knowledge of a topic and give an overview;
- help order topics according to their importance and relevance;
- determine how much of a topic is understood;
- reveal any misconceptions of a topic;
- link new ideas with previously learned material’
- show the prior knowledge of a topic’
- reduce doubt so that the pupils knows what to study and what to leave out.
Resource 1: A measurement mind map