5/8/2023 0 Comments Ayoa features![]() Whilst the appetite for podcasts waned over time, and YouTube videos experienced a turbulent time (just managing at the end of the course to claw back to their initial popularity rating), in comparison, learning via mind maps went from strength to strength. ![]() In fact, mind mapping’s gradual rise in popularity is in contrast to other delivery styles which are typically lauded by students – those of podcasts and YouTube videos. It goes to show that initial unfamiliarity doesn’t automatically mean that something is destined to not succeed. However, the story of mind mapping is quite different – going from the bottom 3 in the popularity standings to being a close second to practical work! Unsurprisingly, given the practical nature of his course, ‘actually doing stuff’ remained the most favoured throughout. Despite a bumpy start (as there always is with anything new), Ayoa and its mind maps delivered a hugely beneficial impact on his students’ engagement even through the disruptions of the pandemic.Īs you can see, from the above bar charts, the popularity of the various learning methods Tim applied during his course varied over time. How Tim’s theory panned out in reality, very closely matches his hypothesis. And a mind map is really just an extension of thinking, mapping the thinking.” When trying to find a learning method which best suits such learners, Tim has always speculated that, “mind maps work very well with construction students because they’re used to working with plans and schedules. It does however mean that this population strives to expand their educational credentials. This can wrongly leave them lacking a competitive edge within a highly competitive job market. Mature students, although having extensive practical experience, sometimes lack academic certificates or qualifications to reflect their expertise. So how did they find the development of their skills with mind mapping being the driving force behind their education? Ayoa mind mapping and students His cohort of learners consist of 22-45 year olds ranging from housebuilders working in small organisations, to assistant construction managers and civil engineers managing high profile jobs and multi million pound investments such as the HS2 project. Being part of the workforce already though, Tim’s students are already experts in their own right. Having used mind maps in creating business plans, planning events and projects, Tim is well aware of the invaluable versatility and ability to induce deep learning which they can offer his students. This makes it completely different to the conventional way of teaching through PowerPoint presentations. With Ayoa, Tim is able to continue with his teaching pattern even in the world of online learning. As a modern-day lecturer, finding a digital way of mind mapping, especially during the pandemic, has been crucial for Tim. Gone are the days of mind mapping on big boards though. Now that he is on the other side of the lecture hall, and isĭelivering a learning experience to others at the University of Hertfordshire and Moulton College, having discovered first-hand the benefits mind mapping can bring to education, Tim has been inspired to add mind mapping to a curriculum of his own. “I used to carry big boards to record what was said in the lectures,” he says. Tim started using mind maps about 30-40 years ago as he tried to find a different, more effective way of studying for himself. Read on to find out how Ayoa can stimulate the future of education. Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Do you think that mind maps are only for the creatives? What do you think then would happen if mind mapping was to be introduced into a sustainable construction diploma course? Tim Fenn is a lecturer in construction management, specialising in sustainable construction and innovation, and for over 2 years he did just that with Ayoa.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |