| Flashback. I worked on a failed mindmap startup with a web-based tool just like this (it was 1999 so of course it was Flash!). As the other commenter said, there's a split in people who learn well with mindmaps and others like me who prefer lists. The startup I worked on: Mindwarp Pavillion in Dundee got licensing rights to stacks of textbooks. They created loads of mindmaps based on study books and sold access to students for a few bucks a month. Even (better?) the mindmaps were a quiz where the student had to answer the next node. There were studies showing that using this method they retained a lot more information. I was told that the whole mindmap concept was protected somehow (patent?) which they paid a license fee to use. They also got the endorsement of its creator. £30m valuation when the local authority invested. They lasted a year then died, leaving my last invoice unpaid. They failed because:
- Students didn't pay
- They could do it on pen and paper for free, while they're learning
- The product wasn't driven by a real customer need: 12 months of dev on super-whizzy software without getting a MVP in students hands |
And that active engagement with the text is the important thing! The student making their own mind map/flash cards/linear notes/annotations on past papers. Whatever.
I like the node quiz idea though, and shall use that on the whiteboard one day (UK based maths teacher).
PS: nice e-book