Collaboration and cooperation are some of the most basic elements in 21st-century learning. Of course brainstorming is nothing new, but there are tools that allow us to share and expand on ideas in new ways that are different from one another and therefore serve different purposes.
aMaps
This site allows students to debate any given topic at any level of education. For example, preschool students could verbally express their ideas on whether dogs or cats make better pets while the teacher types them into the computer and the ideas appear on the screen. On the other hand, high school and college students could debate heavier issues in any subject: causes of given war, which candidate to vote for in an election, how to deal with global warming, whether or not stem cell research is ethical, etc. The list is literally endless. And there's always room for the devil's advocate here, too!
Another feature of this tool is that it forces users to keep their arguments concise, as space is limited to about two lines per comment. Of course students debating more complex issues might find this too limiting, but it could nevertheless be a good starting point. "aMaps" also introduces younger students what informal logic is and to what arguments, propositions, and evidence are.
Go create an aMap now!
Solvr
Here's how it works...
Simply go to Solvr and type in any debatable issue imaginable: school uniforms vs. dress code vs. no dress code; why we have certain rules in our classroom/school; why bio fuels are or are not truly helpful in improving environmental quality; whether should abolish/adopt the death sentence in our state/country, etc. One caveat: this site is open to anyone who wants to comment on your issue, so you could see some abuse. For that reason, the teacher would need to monitor the discussion closely in most cases.
Mindmeister
aMaps
This site allows students to debate any given topic at any level of education. For example, preschool students could verbally express their ideas on whether dogs or cats make better pets while the teacher types them into the computer and the ideas appear on the screen. On the other hand, high school and college students could debate heavier issues in any subject: causes of given war, which candidate to vote for in an election, how to deal with global warming, whether or not stem cell research is ethical, etc. The list is literally endless. And there's always room for the devil's advocate here, too!
Another feature of this tool is that it forces users to keep their arguments concise, as space is limited to about two lines per comment. Of course students debating more complex issues might find this too limiting, but it could nevertheless be a good starting point. "aMaps" also introduces younger students what informal logic is and to what arguments, propositions, and evidence are.
Go create an aMap now!
Solvr
Here's how it works...
Simply go to Solvr and type in any debatable issue imaginable: school uniforms vs. dress code vs. no dress code; why we have certain rules in our classroom/school; why bio fuels are or are not truly helpful in improving environmental quality; whether should abolish/adopt the death sentence in our state/country, etc. One caveat: this site is open to anyone who wants to comment on your issue, so you could see some abuse. For that reason, the teacher would need to monitor the discussion closely in most cases.
Mindmeister
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