iThought is an amazing iPad app which allows you to create a "mind map." For myself, a definite visual learner, this tool could be incredibly helpful! It is often difficult to organize thoughts, and by using iThought your thoughts can become tangible and organized.
Not only can this app be useful for myself as a teacher, but I can use it as a means of teaching my students the skill of thought organization through manipulative graphic organizers. Brainstorming is an essential part of the writing process. I remember as a young student being taught how to draw a "spider web" graphic organizer. This skill was useful, however, by using the iPad students are now able to physically arrange and rearrange thoughts at will. This can help the brainstorming process to be less frustrating and time-consuming. Using the iPad as part of the writing process can also be a motivational strategy to help students become excited about starting the writing process--often a dreaded and daunting task for young learners. The tactile nature of using the iPad can help keep students engaged and interested.
iThought's mind mapping capabilities can be useful in other subject areas as well. For example, as part of a reading literature lesson, students could brainstorm predictions of what they think may happen next in the story. Students could also use the mind-map to organize the causes and effects of historical events as part of a social studies lesson. The iThought app could honestly be adapted into almost any subject area in the classroom.
Another aspect of my future classroom in which I could use iThought would be as a means of cooperative class brainstorming. For example, as a class we could brainstorm positive social interactions or classroom rules. By using this visual organizational tool, all students can be involved in the creation and viewing of the discussion.
Nice work
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