CED0525 week 3

This week one of the assignments was to compare and contrast three online concept map programs.  I chose to look at Bubbl.us, Webspiration, and Mindmeister.

The first program I looked at was Bubbl.us.  This program is very easy to use, whether you are new to concept maps or whether you are quite familiar with them.  Although, this program doesn’t provide much in the way of directions if you are new to concept maps.  In this program it is very easy to add a new “bubble”, change the colors of the background and text, and the size of the font.  It’s very easy to move the “bubbles” around.  Some of the features I really like is that when you move your pointer over a word or icon it states how to do the action.  I also like that the connectors grow, shrink, and move with the bubbles.  This is a really nice feature.  This program is easy enough to use for all grade levels.  This is a free program, but if you want to save a concept map you have to create an account.  Also, I didn’t see any pre-made templates.

The next program I looked at was Webspiration.  Webspiration is very similar to Inspiration with an online cloud component.  This program is easy to use, has lots of options, cloud computing (allowing for collaboration), you can make an outline from your concept map or vice versa.  Webspiration does have already made templates and I like that you can change the shapes of your boxes or use graphics with text instead of boxes.  If students already know how to use Inspiration they will not have to relearn a new concept map program.  I don’t like that you have to create an account with an email address.  My students don’t have access to email accounts at school.  This program is designed for grades 5-12.

The last one I explored was Mindmeister.  Of the three programs this was my least favorite.   Like Webspiration this program provides collaboration with cloud computing.  You can also access Mindmeiser with an iPad or iPhone, which is a nice feature.  I think this would be a good program for really complex concept maps.  What I don’t like about this program is just like Webspiration you have to create an account using an email account.  I don’t like that it doesn’t have “boxes”, but rather text or graphics.  It does include templates and a good variety of concept maps.  I think this program would be good for advanced science.  I can see cell break downs taking place in this program.  It’s easy to expand an idea, but I feel it would be easy for students to get “lost” in this program, especially students with special needs.

This week we also discussed these strategies:  Cues, Questions, and Advance Organizers; Nonlinguistic Representation; Summarizing and Notetaking

In my classes I use KWL charts, Venn diagrams, and concept maps to name a few.  What I like especially about KWL charts is that it makes students an active participant in their learning.  They start with what they know and have an opportunity to list things they want to learn.  I even go so far as to make sure that we answer all of their questions, even if isn’t part of the curriculum.  After the unit they have the opportunity to see how much they learned.  I think these go well because the students are active participants in their learning.   The graphic organizers can also be used for nonlinguistic representation.  In addition to visual charts, I like to include kinesthetic activities for my students.  We might toss a ball while listing parts of speech, for example.  Right now my students favorite activity is the use of beanbags and buckets.  We use a lot of fun “game” activities in my classroom.  My students tend to be very visual and kinesthetic learners.  Some of the technologies I use to help summarize are Senteos (clickers), interactive SmartBoard activities, and iPods.  I don’t do a lot of note taking in my classes.  I work with students with cognitive disabilities, however, we discuss at great lengths everything we read and do.  Regurgitating the same material in different ways helps my students with retention.