TECH3008: Why Mapping Tools are Important for Education

Mapping tools are frequently embedded in school curricula, students projects and teachers' delivery techniques. The emphasis of using mind map as a facilitative tool in schools' curricula is because of its effective role to teach students critical and analytical skills and help them understand the relationships between different concepts. Teachers as well as students prefer using mapping tools since they display the content in a succinct diagrammatic relationships instead of detailed wordy descriptions. Davies (2010) points out that using graphs and diagrams are more understandable than using only words. Mapping tools are also more effective in clarifying and facilitating complex materials.

Mind Map

Concept Map

There are different names used for mapping tools , such as, mind map, concept map and argument map. Although these names differ in their connotations and attributions, people usually use them synonymously. Those mapping tools have the same aim but they differ in their implementation. Mind mapping uses pictures mainly which encourages students to imagine to find the relationships between concepts; concept mapping uses words essentially with some pictures to help students comprehend the connections between concepts themselves and the domain in which they are used; and argument mapping requires critical thinking to infer the links between the suggestions

and the disagreements about the topic
and asses the validity of the argument.

Argument Map

Mapping tools especially mind maps and concept maps are widely used in our schools but there is a lack knowledge of the availability of mapping software. Mapping software allows teachers and students create attractive and well-made maps in a short time but they have some drawbacks. In the future I will teach my students how to use mapping software and I will offer help to the other teachers who find difficulties in using mapping software.

From my experience in using mapping software I encounter some limitations which curb the use of them. Some programs, such as, inspiration don't allow Arabic' access. Others, including Xmind don't allow saving maps as pictures. This means that the user has to display maps each time using the program itself with available access to the internet.

_information source;