Mind maps are a very visual way of thinking. This technology is very easy to use and there are plenty of templates available. Customization is also possible, but customizing each bubble could get tedious. The interface is userfriendly and bright.  This technology and method of note-taking encourages the reader to create hierarchies and summarize concepts in short phrases or sentences. Bubbles with long phrases and sentences may become unruly and make the screen unmanageable. 

---

I commented on two of my classmates' notes this week. 

Kim's Coggle Notes for New Learning 1 are very useful and well organized. Looking over her map and mine, it is interesting to see the different ways we decided to "rank" information. I think Kim's map would be very well suited for a review and would help in the future when remembering this chapter. The differences between our notes made me realize that people will use the same kind of note-taking differently. While mind maps are very good for general review, they are not good for in-depth annotation of a chapter. I like how neatly this can summarize a chapter. Without customization, it might be faster to use but perhaps more constraining. 

Heather's Notes for Brain Rules 1 uses Stormboard, which is another visual learning tool. From her notes, Brain Rules 1 seems like an easy book to read with very simple concepts and easily listed rules. I am a little confused by the technology because it is new to me. It seems similar to if someone posted index cards on a corkboard. 

It's really interesting that it allows other users to come in and play with the notes. I think it would work best like index cards with short definitions. 

Brain Rules seems like an interesting read, and helpful for future teachers. I like the fact that everything comes from peer reviewed journals.