Myndbook - Mindmapping Tool

Myndbook is another option for students and teachers to utilize when looking for a mindmapping tool.  I recently wrote a post sharing other options that you might be interested in reading.  Myndbook provides a very simple user interface and does not require a login to use immediately.  By creating a free account, users do have the option to save and go back and edit mind maps that they have created.

The interface allows users to easily move from one part of their mind map to another and adding new aspects is also simple.  There are some interesting features.  Users can print, present, or turn their mind maps into Flashcards and an outline.  Myndbook allows users to alter the colors and user text editing features as well.  There is also the option of adding in links or utilizing HTML.  Connecting aspects of the mind map is as simple as click and drag.

By logging in with Facebook users can share their mind map with others.  Myndbook would be a great option for taking notes from a textbook or an article.  

I Discovered it can be a Small World with Social Media

This post has little to do with education, but I wanted to share an interesting experience.  On Thursday night I was at home watching the UofL vs. North Carolina A&T game from the NCAA tournament on television.  While watching UofL games I like to read what people are saying about the game on Twitter, especially from people that are at the game and get views and comments that are not shared on television.  During the game, the following Tweet came across my feed.

I replied because I knew exactly who he was talking about.  It was my brother who had just posted a picture of himself at the game on Facebook.  Also both of them shared a picture from their seats (One on Facebook, one on Twitter) and they were very identical.  So I was able to reply to him and give him a description of what my brother was wearing.

Through this conversation, a person I have been following on Twitter that does not know me or my brother shared a brief "small world" moment.  I shared screenshots with my brother to let him know.  Unfortunately he did not check his phone for messages from me to try and go say hello.  What is also interesting is that I was not the only person to let him know it was my brother.  There were multiple replies from other people that knew exactly who he was talking about as well.

This post has little to do directly with education, but it does show the power of Twitter and social media in general and how it can make our world seem a lot smaller for ourselves and our students.  There are many people on Twitter from all over the world that could be contacted through Twitter about possibly speaking to classrooms or sharing in intellectual conversations with students and teachers through Twitter.  Twitter also provides an opportunity to get information from live events that you might not catch on TV.

Have you ever had one of these experiences?