Peer Review

MindMeister

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Reviewed:: Mar 28, 2016 by Teacher Education

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: MindMeister is a free tool students can use to create mindmaps and brainstorm topics. Mind maps can include a wide variety of multimedia including: text, images, icons, links, and attachments. It also supports offline editing and syncing. Mind maps can be exported to Word, PowerPoint, PDF, and in the form of an image.
Type of Material:: Presentation
Recommended Uses:: The possibilities are endless with this resource. MindMeister lets you share your mind maps with as many friends or colleagues as you want and collaborate with them in real-time. Whether you're in a face-to-face meeting or thousands of miles apart, everyone can see changes made in the mind map immediately. Collaborators can quickly comment on topics, vote on ideas or discuss changes in an integrated chat. This app can be used for everything from note-taking to creating presentations. It can be used for individual and group projects.
Technical Requirements:: Windows, Mac, Linux Android: Android 5.1+, native app for Android phones and tablets, with full offline capabilities and automatic synchronization iOS: Native apps for iPhone and iPad, with real-time collaboration, with Apple Watch support. Requires iOS 8.2 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. MindMeister has apps available from the Google App store, a Google doc add-on which will enable the user to convert a bullet point list to a mind map and insert the image, as well as a Google Chrome extension.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: With MindMeister’s award-winning mind map editor you create, share and present mind maps right inside your web browser. All your maps are safely stored in the cloud, where users can access them from your Mac, Windows PC, Linux computer, Chromebook or mobile device. MindMeister is both mind mapping and presentation software in one! The online version lets you turn mind maps into stunning presentations within seconds and present them right inside the map editor. Slideshows can also be exported, broadcast online or embedded.
Target Student Population:: Elementary, middle, high school and higher education.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Word processing skills Familiarity with presentation software such as power point or Prezi is helpful MindMeister includes a 4 module training course on how to create mindmaps effectively with their program; it would be immensely beneficial to users to complete this training.

Content Quality

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Strengths:: Tool allows for brainstorming. This could be useful in any content area for students to create visuals about any concept. Presentations can be created from these mind maps and include visuals and videos. MindMeister has gone above and beyond in presenting their concept clearly and simply. Through the blogs, videos, training modules and forums on their website, they repeat the message that mind mapping structures information, enhances productivity, fosters creativity, and improves memory and recall. Mind mapping with MindMeister would be a useful skill in any discipline.
Concerns:: None

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

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Strengths:: Mind maps are full of mental triggers that help your brain comprehend and store concepts more easily. Students will take fewer notes, need fewer revisions and still retain more facts than they would with linear notes. Because mind maps mostly use keywords, images and short phrases, users can jot down thoughts a lot faster than usual. This free flow of ideas will help students brainstorm creative writing assignments and solve brainteasers. Mind maps can also store and structure vast amounts of information. They display hierarchy, show relationships between single topics and enable users to see the “big picture” at a glance. This also makes them ideal for summarizing texts. Cloud-based mind mapping helps foster collaboration between students and allows for a more efficient communication between teachers and students. Even the most complex problem is quickly visualized and explained with a mind map. Learners, teachers or family members could use the tool to support learning. The tool offers a means for the user to create mind maps for any content area.
Concerns:: Specific learning objectives are not identified but could easily be created by content instructor.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

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Strengths:: There is a slight learning curve to MindMeister; however, the included training modules guide users seamlessly in the process of creating their own mind maps. An extensive Help Center section is included, with sections on basics, map features, account and team settings, tools, settings, MindMeister for Google, and supported browsers. Users can also submit a ticket if they need technical support. The layout of the site is clean with a clear menu toolbar at the top of the screen. Mind maps are fun to create; even with the free version there are so many options to customize a user's creation.
Concerns:: None

Other Issues and Comments:: Requires a login to use beyond trial use. The online free version includes 3 mind maps. Subscription costs (March 2016): 1 month personal $5.99; 12 month personal $59.99; 1 month pro $9.99; 6 month pro $59.99; 6 month Educational personal $18.
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