Brainstorming and Mind Mapping

By Linda McClure on August 1, 2020 • ( 0 )

Brainstorming, is one of the foundation steps in a lesson. There are so many great tools that allow for interactive communication. Here are some of my favorites!

Padlet

I have been using Padlet for years. You create a bulletin board and share it with your students. They can add sticky notes with pictures and ideas. You can approve the notes before they are posted and there are several layout options. The free version gives you a limited number of boards you can save but I have always found it to be enough.

Google Jamboard

This one is great if you have Google apps or any LMS that works with Google (really, what doesn’t?). You can write and draw. You can type, add links, and images. You can then share as you would any other Google app.

Linot

Linot is another favorite of mine. It is a bulletin board like Padlet that has different backgrounds where you can add links, images, and pictures. Share the link to your bulletin board with groups of students and they can answer a question or make a comment. Use as an introduction to a unit as I have done in this example or as an exit ticket.

Ziteboard

A whiteboard program that works on any device. Use your mouse, finger, or stylus to write, like you would on a whiteboard. Simple and useful.

Bubbl.us

A bubble map maker students can use to create thinking maps. This app is very simple to use. You can create a template or allow students to create their bubble maps from scratch.

Coggle

Coggle is a brilliant mind mapping tool that can be shared with a group, embedded in a website or given to kids to use individually. Coggle works with Google and has a free version.

Lucid Chart

This is a great simple charting tool that allows students to create thinking maps and brainstorms. The free version allows you to get a sharable link that is editable! This is unique and not true for all the apps that I reviewed. This is a great tool for collaboration. It can also be embedded into an LMS platform such as Canvas or Schoology.