CSI: Mind Mapping
£60About this course
This workshop will enable your students to develop an inquisitive approach to learning and studying skills. Through adopting the mindset of a detective, your students will be able to identify, condense and arrange key information. They will learn how to map information effectively, showing links and associations. This workshop will help your students to develop their focus, concentration and attention in exam preparation. They are sure to be inspired by our undeniably engaging study workshop.
Rationale
To think like a detective gives students both a memorable metaphor for inquiry and a compelling methodology that leads to effective independent learners. Like expert detectives, expert students should be trained to think about how they think. A good detective needs to be able to think both creatively, and critically. They need to be able to apply focused attention and solve problems. This workshop combines exercises which engage all those skills, whilst also teaching your students the incredible learning technique known as mind mapping. A mind map is a diagram used to visually organise information into a hierarchy, showing relationships between ideas and concepts. Studies have shown that mind mapping is an innovative and effective method in remembering things, performing far better than the routine way of just reading text (Kalyanasundaram 2017). In this workshop, your students will fine-tune their observational skills, work collaboratively to analyse and evaluate data and apply a logical approach to problem solving. All underpinned with the technique of mind mapping,
The impact of collaborative approaches on learning is consistently positive.
EEF Toolkit
Objectives
- To encourage students to develop an enquiring mind and become active learners.
- To encourage students to reflect on their current approaches to studying.
- To equip students with independent learning strategies.
- To enable students to study in an active and enjoyable manner.
Skills taught and their Benefits
Collaborative learning involves pupils working together on activities or learning tasks in a group small enough to ensure that everyone participates.
Chunking information involves breaking content into smaller groups and presenting it a coordinated and hierarchical fashion. Dividing your course content into manageable chunks helps students learn more effectively (Ambrose et al., 2013; Felder & Brent, 2016)
Colour coding teaches students codify separate, different chunks of information. Colour can help significantly to show the organisation of a subject and/or topic.
Summarising teaches students to discern the most important ideas in a text, how to ignore irrelevant information, and how to integrate the central ideas in a meaningful way.
Problem solving skills are the ability to identify problems, brainstorm and analyse answers, and implement the best solutions.
Creative thinking improves focus and concentration and helps to reduce stress and anxiety. Creative thinking is multi-disciplinary, gives meaning to learning, promotes risk-taking and can lead to feelings of accomplishment and pride.
Outcomes
By the end of the workshop, your students will have:
- Developed an enquiring mind and confidence in their abilities as an active learner.
- Improved their memory skills and metacognitive abilities.
- Gained confidence in their own abilities and potential.
- Developed a positive attitude towards study and revision, using mind-mapping as an effective, active, creative and enjoyable strategy.
“Amazing! It motivated me and helped me focus and understand revision in a much easier way.”
Year 8 Student – Knutsford Academy (2022)
Statutory Guidance, Curriculum and Frameworks
GATSBY Benchmarks: 3,6
NERUPI Framework: Practise
PSHE Core: Living in the wider world
- CSI: Mind Mapping contains strategies that are also featured in PH: Mind Mapping.
- If students are taking part in CSI: Mind Mapping they should not also take part in PH: Mind Mapping in the same school term
- Many schools that book CSI: Mind Mapping find that these additional workshops work well in combination: The Lighthouse
- Recommended add-ons: All Power Hours, Parent Workshop, Staff 1hr CPD
Note to parents
The strategies within this course are designed to help your child plan, structure and conduct their revision in the most effective manner.
It is important to note that each child has individual strengths and preferences and will therefore benefit from a tailored and personalised approach to revision. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ magic rabbit foot for passing exams. There are, however, a range of techniques that have been proven to assist in increasing focused attention, understanding and recall. We encourage students to experiment with a variety of these techniques so they might develop an approach that works for them. A good time for trying out different revision methods is in the lead up to the mock exams. Help them to analyse which techniques work for them, so that when they are revising for their main exams – they know how to revise in a confident and effective manner.
Discuss revision with your child and encourage them to discuss it with their friends and siblings. Encourage your child to attend any additional revision sessions organised by the school; these will be focused on the key topics that will come up in the exam. Your child will also get the feeling that they’re not alone in this; all their friends are going through it too. Attend any parents’ evenings put on by the school. It’s useful to be reminded of things you might not have thought of or forgotten. Also, it’s a great time to hear from other parents and how they’re all experiencing similar issues or challenges.
We wish you all the best in supporting your child through the intensive and often stressful time leading up to exams. The act of you reading this text, infers that you have your child’s best interests in mind. I’m sure they will benefit massively from your help, support and encouragement.
Best,
Sander de Groot
Head of Training
Syllabus
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Section One
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