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MindMup

Mindprint Rating

Tags

^Music, Art and Makerspaces MS/HS/College Website

Skills

Organization Verbal Reasoning Abstract Reasoning

Mindprint Expert Review

Pros

  • The free version has most features of the paid version and no ads, making this a good free option for students and classrooms.
  • The site icons are straight-forward, so most students can use the site without needing much support.
  • Site has good features to make the map visually appealing, including choosing node colors, easily rearranging nodes, and importing pictures.

Considerations

  • The free version does not allow students to keep their maps private and will only store them for six months.
  • The site is not specifically designed for students, so it does not have a tutorial or specific, kid-friendly icons or features.

Mindprint Expert Review

MindMUp is a good graphic organizer that enable students to easily create a mind map for organizing their thoughts or make connections to different bits of content. The site is free to use and store maps in the cloud or google drive for six months, but students will need to upgrade to keep their work private or store it long-term. There is no tutorial or special, child-friendly features and uses mind mapping terminology that might be unfamiliar such as "parent" and "sibling". However, the site design is clean and the icons are understandable, so this site could be a good choice for students ranging from middle school to adults. The site has some nice features, including the option to color code different nodes, easily import pictures into a node, and easily move nodes for optimal visual appeal. In addition, students can opt to have the map turned into a storyboard which is essentially a bullet point outline of their nodes which they might find easier to use for writing or presenting. Overall a very good choice for students who know how to use mind maps and want a reliable tool.

Academic Benefits

Improves academic skills

  • Provides sufficient and varied types of practice problems to maximize understanding and generalization of the targeted skill/concept
  • Manufacturer claims alignment with Common Core/Known Standards
  • Presents educational concepts accurately
  • Explains answers so students can learn from mistakes
  • Better for teaching the skill to new or struggling learners
  • Better for practicing or refreshing the skill
  • Skills are practiced through authentic, meaningful problems (not just rote practice)

Fun

Engaging for the Mindprint recommended age range

  • Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
  • Subject matter and problems are relevant, interesting and authentic to students
  • Visually appealing to children in the target age range
  • Provides virtual rewards or incentives after meeting specified goals or objectives
  • Provides a "break activity" between academic problem sets
  • Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
  • Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option

Easy to Use

Understandable for children in the Mindprint recommended age range

  • Has a free or trial version
  • Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
  • Provides an age-appropriate tutorial/first time users can work independently
  • Student should be able to use independently after first use
  • Has a multi-player option to foster in-person collaboration or cooperation
  • Multiple users can save a profile
  • Student graduates to the next level or topic only after meeting a benchmark
  • Can play without sound and not distract others
  • Students can save work between sessions
  • Can effectively understand and monitor student's progress (email report or in product)
  • Requires registration before using the first time
  • Provides options to play in languages other than English/Good for ELL
  • Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
  • Overall - Easy to use

Cognitive Concerns

May not be advisable for students with the following cognitive needs

  • Spatial Perception