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Mapping Our Thinking and Learning

Written on: October 7th, 2008 by: in Learning Journeys

Honoré here: One of the ideas Kathy, Annie and I have been toying with [in our learning journey project] is to develop some type of tool that visually documents – or maps – our learning journey. If you have attended one of our programs you may recall the cluster or mind-maps we created as we captured the conversations about reading interests, hobbies, ways we track our learning paths.

Recently, I started Visual Tools for Transforming Information into Knowledge by David Hyerle. According to recent brain research, as shared in the book, "Neuroscientists tell us that the brain organizes information in networks and maps." ( p.2). How often, when thinking of what you need to do or creating a shopping list, have you found yourself doodling or adding symbols, such as numerals, stars, asterisks, exclamation points, arrows, circles, etc, to your list? What about color? Ever create a mini-map showing the places you need to go and the order in which you’ll make your stops? What about tracking or documenting a learning path?

I am only on page 2 in the Introduction of this book – 18 pages preceded the introduction – and already, I am captivated. About two weeks before I received this book, I ran across two titles on mapping our experiences, ideas, imagination, learning and life’s journey. They are on my reading stand – each one beckoning to me. Lots of maps awaiting. I shall keep you posted. The titles of the other two books are listed in the sidebar under What Honoré’s Reading.

I encourage you to try your hand at mapping your learning journey or your to-do list. Just use one of the blank pages in your journal and turn it sideways – horizontal – and map away!