Did you know… Improving memory and using Mind Maps improves self esteem.

“Grade 5 literacy support students were introduced to memory techniques to illustrate that they possessed the ability to remember. This was necessary as they all thought they had “bad brains”.

They would say “my brain is not as good as so and so’s”. So we said “Your memory is as good as anybody else’s, I am going to show you how you can prove it”.

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I was watching another TED Talk the other day title ‘Do schools kill creativity?’ with Sir Ken Robinson, in which he makes an entertaining and moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.

 

In his talk Sir Ken intersperses his serious message with comical anecdotes.  One I really like is a play on the old philosophical question ‘If a tree falls in a forest and nobody hears it, did it really happen?’.

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2 part Blog - Part 1 - FYI...

Edward de Bono has just been announced as a keynote speaker at the Queensland Studies Authority (http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/) 2010 conference on the Australian curriculum P-12. - 28–30 April 2010  Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

"The conference will explore key issues, opportunities and challenges the new Australian curriculum will bring for schools — the number one topic on school agendas around the country."

Well worth a look!!

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We are putting together a Teacher's Resource Kit for Mind Mapping and would be interested in any ideas you may have.

Considering you/your staff’s experience and knowledge in Mind Mapping what would be the most helpful and important curriculum based ideas that you would like to see Mind Mapped on a

• Poster
• As a student BLM (these could be scaffolded depending on your student’s experience)
• Online as a digital resource

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Thought I would share this interesting article I just found where Tony Buzan and Christine Miller (editor of ReSource magazine (www.resourcemagazine.co.uk) share thier thoughts on learning and talk about the "Magic of the Mind" event at the Royal Albert Hall in London where 4,000 11-15 year olds and their teachers explored thinking skills, learning styles and memory techniques.

 

(you may need to be logged in to see the pdf link below)

Let's narrow the scope of the question to focus on students who study hard and have difficulties during the exam. Read more

Reading is usually described as
“Getting from a book what the author intended”
“Assimilating from the written word”

There are actually 7 components in reading ... Read more

Here is a neat way to remember which notes have tones and semi-tones.

Write on your left hand the following notes

Thumb = A

First Finger = B C

Second Finger = D

Third Finger = E F

Fourth Finger = G

 

Then, imagine between each finger a Sharp or Flat.

I came up with this idea while trying to learn different bar cords on my guitar and it really works!

 

Do you have any hints or tips that will help remember music?

Here is a link to an excellent online interview with Tony Buzan about Mind Maps and how they are being used in schools and businesses around the world - many great detailed stories

 

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/BusinessMatters/2008/11/11/The-Swiss-Army-Knife-For-The-Brain-Mind-Mapping-with-Tony-Buzan

 

Host - Eric Olsen -  on his regular segment called Business Matters

Duration : 60 Minutes

Dear Friends & Colleagues,

Grenville Payne, my coordinator and BLI candidate in South Africa, has unearthed the attached, wonderfully supportive research from the Loyola University.

The floodgates are opened!

Distribute and use as you wish.

Floreant Dendritae

Tony Buzan

4TH SECRET: PERSISTENCE IS THE KEY
The process described in the 3rd secret was pretty simple, wasn’t it? The really challenging part for Mel though will be not to give up when there isn’t instantaneous success. In fact, this is where we as teachers and facilitators of learning really come into our own.
Read more

3RD SECRET: GO META ON THE MAGICAL BEAST!
As long as Mel is caught up in looping through from confusion to frustration, there is very little that we teachers can do. Or is there?

Try this: Read more

 

2^ND SECRET: IS FRUSTRATION A STUCK STATE?

Melanie is frustrated with her continuing lack of success at learning and she shows it! The question is, was she born a frustrated learner? Was she hard-wired at birth with the ‘frustrated learner’ gene destined to scowl her way through school and life stumbling from one frustrating learning episode to the next?

 

Read more

From time to time, as a teacher, lecturer, facilitator or trainer you would have come across the students or participants in your class who displayed signs of frustration at the learning process. They are often openly disruptive and ignoring them in the hope that they might become interested in your lesson seems to antagonize them further. Let’s explore ways of shifting them from frustration to learning? Read more

Cut revision time in half with double the results!
Rev Up for Revision will help kids:
. improve memeory and concentration
. pass exams with flying colours
. remember facts and figures with ease
. plan answers calmly during exams
. make revision fun and enjoyable
Book two in the series!

This full-colour illustrated edition and introduces you to the fundamental operational principles of your brain, showing you how to understand, develop and use them to your enormous advantage.

The Shortcut to Success in your Studies with Mind Mapping, Speed Reading and Winning Memory Techniques!

 

Most memory techniques we know and use are for memorizing numbers, shuffled decks of cards, etc., which are short-term memory endeavors.

What about long term memory for things like Medicine.

Here is a recent post by Michael Ostrovski in wwbc yahoo group.

  Read more

Here are a couple of my favourite memory quotes

  Read more

For ideas on how to use iMindMap check out the latest posts on the Mind exchange for Mind Maps drawn in iMind Map

 

Please add one of your Mind Maps and ask any questions that may have popped up as you where using the software.

Peter Russell, author of the Brain Book and long time collaborator with Tony Buzan, has created a cool Life Expectancy Calculator.  http://www.peterrussell.com/Odds/VirtualAge.php

My Biological age is 44 (though I prefer 40+gst)

The good news is that my virtual age is 31 and my life expectancy is 88 (I'm halfway there).

The calculator gives you real clues on what impacts on life expectancy and how to Age-proof your brain and body.

Once you have mastered the basic peg system of Number Rhyme for your short term memory lists. 1 = bun, 2 = shoe, you can easily extend the number of items remembered by associating an element with the images. . 1-9 as normal 10-19 same imagery but everything is in Ice (i.e. one = bun, in a block of ice) 20-29 – same imagery where everything is blue (2-blue) (i.e. one = a blue bun) 30-31 – same imagery with everything as velvet. (i.e. one = a bun resting in velvet) Etc

Hello, I'm pleased to be doing my bit to promote mental fitness and literacy. Read more

As we get older, it's vitally important to keep the mind active and fit. In this film, brain guru Tony Buzan talks about the common problems and misconceptions of aging, as well as the secrets behind having a healthy mind at any age. http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-age-proof-your-brain

Hi, thought I would start the group discussion by sharing a Mind Map for the Certificate 4 in Training and Assessment (TAA)http://www.fuzz2buzz.com/en/mex/mind-map/software/264/inclusive-learning-culture . I created this Mind Map as my assignment to discuss the core elements of a Inclusive Learning Culture. . The core strategies as I see it are - to understand the learners - their background, learning styles and learning needs and current experience, skills and abilities - to adjust the environment, activities and assessment to met their needs Read more

Stunning Sydney Harbour was the backdrop for stage 1 of Tony Buzan’s Australian Tour in February 2008 . Whether working with 40 executives (in a global environmental engineering organisation) on Grass Roots Leadership, or inspiring a diverse group of people (who travelled from all over Australia) to hear how they could Age Proof their Brain, Tony Buzan brought new and dynamic information from his recent global events and research. . Read more