Tips for Tutors: Using Learning Map

Learning Maps

The goal of this article is to describe what learning maps are, what varieties they come in, and why they're important. It will also inform students and subject tutors about the advantages of these maps. It will also provide advice on how to use and execute them.

Learning Maps are visual tools used to reflect different types of cognitive skills which are used by the students when looking for a topic. These cognitive skills include comparing, contrasting, describing qualities, segmentation, sequencing, cause-effect, etc. There are some learning strategies that have a strong impact on the student’s achievements in schools. Learning maps helps in achieving integration between the classroom and private tutoring sessions. These maps are not simply used to organize information; in fact they act as a whole new language that represents the thinking of the people in a visual manner. Generally there are eight types of learning maps, and these can be described as follows:

Circle Map – It is mainly used for skills like defining in context. This map comprised of two circles among which one is small and other is central. Under the central circle, the tutor asks the students to write a key idea or topic into the central circle. They also want everything about that idea or topic to be listed in the bigger circle.

Bubble Map – This map is mainly used for skills like describing qualities. It is comprised of a central circle that contains one key idea with various branches originating from it. It results in the development of a series of rectangles or circles which consists of words that describe the key idea. For example, the central circle may have words “qualities of a good tutor”. The various branches originating from this circle may contain the words like interesting, fun, initiator, tough etc.

Double Bubble Map – This tool is used for skills like comparing and contrasting. The appearance of the map is exactly as its name. It is comprised of two main circles that are formed at the centre by more circles, and all these circles indicate similarities between them. Different types of branches and additional circles originate on the outer sides of each main circle. Various aspects are shown which are not in common. This helps the students in doing a comparison between two things or aspects.

Tree Map - It is used for skills like classifying and categorizing. It looks like a family tree under which one subject is divided into several small subjects. Hence in this manner, the information under this map is organized. For example, if a tutor is trying to teach his students about sampling and then he may divide the subject into main headings such as probability sampling and non-probability sampling. Apart from that tutors could also ask for examples of each sampling beneath the headings.

Brace Map – It is used for skills like “relating the part to the whole. It is similar to the tree map, but here the focus is entirely not on the classification of the subject. It is specifically useful in the field of mathematics. For example, the map can be used to divide a country into states, cities, suburbs, etc.

Flow Map – It is used for skills like sequencing. These tools are particularly used for describing a sequence of events, for example, it can be used to describe the different parts or events of a story, or it can be used to solve a mathematical problem.

Multi-flow Map – This tool is used to display cause and effect relationship. Under this map, a central node is attached to a number of boxes on the left and on the right. The central node is a square or circle shaped which is having the key event inside. The boxes on the left, reveals what has caused the situation or event and the boxes on the right shows the impact of those events. For example, this map can be used to display the cause and effect of a natural calamity such as earthquake, flood, etc.

Bridge Map – It is used for skills such as perceiving analogies. It is used to show the relating factor in an analogy. This map is useful in subjects like English, Mathematics, etc. For example, tutors can use it in teaching synonyms for the words the students.

Learning maps has the potential to be a fun way to prepare for writing. Through these maps, tutors can identify whether their students have understood the key concepts or not. The learning map is not difficult for students to use. Further, these can be used by people of all ages, and they can apply them in a wide range of subject. It also assists students to concentrate and focus. Different teachers find these learning maps useful when they are required to work with students who have concentration issues. It facilitates students to develop high order and critical thinking skills. It can also improve their memory power, and they will be able to represent information. Further, they can comprehend and access what they are thinking. Learning maps also promotes reflective and independent leaning among the people. There is an advantage of the clarity of communication also as large amount of information can be synthesized. It can also encourage students to identify key concepts and arguments.  These maps are majorly centred on students and provide many advantages to them in a group tutoring session or classroom.              

Learning maps can help implementation of following strategies:

• Summarizing and note taking
• Recognizing similarities and differences
• Doing homework and practices
• Creating and testing hypothesis
• Cooperative learning
• Offering recognition and reinforcing effort
• Non-linguistic representations
• Establishing goals and offering feedback
• Activating prior knowledge

As a result of the preceding study, it is apparent that learning maps play a significant role in the educational sector. Many educational institutions are reaping the benefits as well. It also helps students enhance their personal and professional skills. Furthermore, it serves as an excellent teaching tool for online tutors.