Thinking with Pictures, the new model mapping software package from Logotron, is a must-have product for every primary school.
The use of model maps as powerful learning tools has long been acknowledged and understood. What Thinking with Pictures does is provide pupils with a visual (clip-art) and aural (text-to-speech) way of showing and explaining what they are thinking – really bringing the benefits of model mapping to a new audience
Once you start looking at Thinking with Pictures you realise how much thought has gone into creating an interface that is clear and simple to use – which doesn’t distract pupils from the mapping process. A simple click of the mouse allows pupils to work in three different ways: Mapping mode, where children can get all their thoughts down in one place, so they can sort, classify, sequence and compare and contrast data; Outline mode, which can be used to quickly create maps, move items or to help pupils categorise and organise thinking; Presenter mode, which is ideal for sharing topic work and ideas. I found it really helped encourage pupils to get involved in group discussions when they used Presenter mode on the classroom’s interactive whiteboard.
My pupils also found it easy to increase the complexity and sophistication of their maps by adding live hyperlinks and notes - a click of the mouse then played a recording, jumped to a website or revealed extra text. Some even exported their maps to Word to form part of a larger project they were working on.
Logotron has provided templates with the software for literacy, numeracy, science, geography and history - over 70 in total. They are bright and colourful and looked great when we printed them out (using the software’s large-scale tile-printing option) for display on the classroom wall as the centre-piece for a project.
It is also worth noting the companion website that has been developed alongside the software. It provides a huge amount of additional information, including a lot of material that helps put the use of model maps in context for someone new to the technique. You can even download a free demo so you have the opportunity to try before you buy, and this product is certainly worth trying!
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Contact:
Thinking with Pictures
Logotron
www.logo.com
Ratings:
Fitness for purpose 4/5
Ease of use 4/5
Features 4/5
Quality 4/5
Value for money 4/5 |
