How to enhance information processing skills with

MindGenius

What are information processing skills?

Information processing is all about collecting, interpreting and sorting through data that supports learning.

Different ways of laying out information also aids children in memory development and information retention. However, it
is also essential that children are able to see the connection between different pieces of information.

Children should not only be able to present data in different ways but should be able to become independent thinkers'
recognising which information is useful and which is not.

Traditional Approach
Often when developing information processing skills, teachers focus on maths and science. However, these are not the
only areas of the curriculum in which information processing skills can be improved.

Information processing involves any area where:

1. We are organising information in such a way as to remember it

2. We are trying to make links between perhaps disparate pieces of information
3. We are identifying links and patterns

Information processing using MindGenius

In this example we will show how MindGenius can be used in the classroom to promote information processing skills. This
lesson is aimed at 9 - 11 year olds and the objective is to collect and analyse information on a history topic they have
been studying.

These steps can be adapted appropriately depending on the level of access the children have to ICT facilities.

1. The children should split off into groups and, using MindGenius, do a brainstorm about what they have learnt
2. As a class collate and discuss the information that has been gathered, fill in any gaps
3. Use these maps as a basis to analyse the information, saying which areas they enjoyed and record which
sources were used

MindGenius naturally breaks thinking down into parts, giving children insight into their own learning. MindGenius can bring
out children's creativity and give them confidence to judge their own and others' ideas.

1. The Children's Group Brainstorm

This activity can act as a reminder to children of what they have learnt on a particular topic, as well as being a stimulus
encouraging them to locate and gather information.

In the brainstorm they should capture everything they can remember having learnt about a particular era in history. In this
example we have used 'The Victorians' as the topic.

It is important that the children understand that in a brainstorm all ideas are accepted - there should be no negativity.

The first step is for each group to appoint a scribe to gather and enter the ideas directly into MindGenius.

To begin brainstorming:

1. From the toolbar, select 'New'

2. Type in the name of the subject matter and press return
3. Select this central branch (the root branch) and then type in ideas as people shout them out, pressing the
return key after typing each one

4. If you need it, get more space in which to work by selecting 'Full Screen' from the View menu

Just keep on using the MindGenius 'type and return' system to quickly build up a lot of information.

Traditionally brainstorming was done on white boards or flipcharts. It was often a difficult task to make sense of the
information gathered. This method is fast and allows for greater interaction amongst participants.

2. Add and Expand Information as a Class

After the children have finished gathering information in their separate groups, MindGenius can be used as a class to
collate everyone's ideas and thoughts.

Again a scribe, probably the teacher, should be chosen. As this is a larger group activity there are a number of ways it
could be organised. A speaker could be chosen from each of the smaller groups to report on what they have discovered,
or ideas could be taken freely.

When using MindGenius in a larger group such as this, it can be beneficial to have a projector in place since then all the
children can see their contributions added in real time.
Once the information has been gathered it is time to drill down and start making sense of what is now no doubt a lot of
information.

To make sense of your brainstorm colour code it:

In this case colours could represent different areas of the syllabus. For example a red square could be put on each branch
that mentions something about health in Victorian times etc. It might be helpful to keep a note of which colours refer to
which categories.

1. Open the categories tile by selecting it in the task pane on the left hand side
of the subject matter and press return
2. Select the dropper tool and choose a category to apply
3. Click on branches to apply the category

With MindGenius you can make what is called a category-centric view, which will redraw the map based on the categories
you have chosen.

To do this:

1. Finish grouping the map branches

2. From the View menu, select 'Create Category Map'
 3. In the new map, name the groups

Following on from this, each group can be analysed in isolation using the Explorer view. The information from each group
can then be further refined by moving relevant branches closer to each other.

3. More Individual Work

Following on from this, the children can use these maps as a basis to add in information, such as which areas they found
interesting and why and which sources of information were used.

The children should have access to books, CDs, internet, photographs and photocopies of sources.

This information can be included by adding more branches and by utilising the notes function.
To add notes:

1. Select the branch you wish to add notes to

2. Open the Notes Editor in the Task Pane
3. Enter your text

4. The note will be attached to the branch and a visual indicator will appear on the branch

Tip: Hover the mouse cursor over the notes symbol to show the first line of the note. Double-clicking on this symbol will open the notes editor.

If you wish to dock the notes to the bottom of the screen click on the symbol.

All the information gathered in maps can be discussed and analysed as a class.

SUMMARY
MindGenius can allow you to approach information processing in a new and innovative way. This key skill can be
developed, using MindGenius, in all areas of the curriculum.

For further reading on how to incorporate thinking skills into lessons see Georgie Beasley’s excellent ‘Thinking Skills’ books published by Scholastic.

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