How do YOU evaluate Mind Maps??

Bill just received an email from a university professor he has been mentoring, who wanted to know how to evaluate a student's Mind Map. See below for his response.

It prompted me to ask if you have recently developed any rubrics or techniques to evaluate a Mind Map.

We are currently developing a Teacher's Resource Kit for Mind Maps and would appreciate any new insights you have. Please add comments below (Pretty Please!)

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BILL's reply...

There are a number of ways to evaluate Mind Maps.  One simple one that Jennifer uses is to review the Mind Map against the laws of Mind Mapping (see attached).  Start at 1:00 and work around giving a point (or part thereof) for each law followed. 

I also look for improvement from my students.  It is unlikely that a first map will be perfect, but if I see an effort to improve and follow the laws better each time they map, then I am grading that higher.  Tony talks about doing 50 or 100 Mind Maps following the laws, and then adapting, knowing that if the laws are followed enough, the absolute sense of them will be drummed in as a new habit.

Key words are also a place to look for improvement.  For note taking are good memory Key Words being used?  For note making, are Single Words per line and good Key Words for creative flow being used.  This is somewhat subjective, but you can usually see the flow of thinking better where good key words are used.

Lastly of course is the ‘look of the Mind Map’.  Does have colour, imagery and connection that enhances it.  Imagery that is unconnected or simply there to ‘pretty’ the map up may make an artistic person happy, but does it had real value. 

I hope that helps, and please keep us informed on how you get along.  Also go to www.fuzz2buzz.com and have a look around, and load some of your own maps to the Mind Exchange. 

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Please add comments below (Pretty Please!)

File: 

How To Mind Map.pdf