Create a mind map with CACOO

Cacoo

Cacoo is an online diagramming tool for creating sitemaps, flowcharts, mind maps, wireframes, mockups, UML models, etc. You can collaborate with others around the globe on Cacoo diagrams in real time.

The Cacoo Editor is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, yet versatile.

I think it is a useful tool to help students create mental images of some topics the may not be able to picture in their minds. It helps them organize their thoughts and ideas into something easy.

Reference: What is Cacoo? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://support.cacoo.com/hc/en-us/articles/213261287-What-is-Cacoo-

How to apply this in the classroom?

Group: 6^th form

Level: Intermediate

Warmer

Students will brainstorm what things they can/can’t/must/mustn’t/have to/don’t have to do at school. With that, the teacher will create a chart on the board. After that, students will reflect upon the uses of the modal verbs [This is a revision lesson, so students should already know what they are used for.]

Web

Sts will be separated in groups and will use CACOO to create a mind map. Before starting, they will read the tutorial posted above. Each group should be in charge of a function (for example: obligation/prohibition) and in the mind map they should include the modal verbs that are used for that function, explanation and examples.

What’s next

Students then will write a list of rules/abilities/obligations according to the topic they were assigned that, after being corrected by the teacher, will be posted on the walls of the classroom.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Appropriate use of modal verbs
• Appropriate way of synthesizing materials
• Correct language use

Theoretical framework

PLANIED

In 2015 the Ministry of Education developed a Digital Competence Framework as part of Plan Nacional de Educación Digital (PLANIED) which aims at promoting digital literacy in the school system.

Six dimensions were identified in terms of the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to be digitally competent in today’s society:

1. Creativity and innovation: requires students to create and construct knowledge using ICT tools
2. Communication and sharing: involves communicating through online tools respecting differences, taking into account e-safety issues and netiquette and sharing online work with a wider audience
3. Information management: focuses on locating, retrieving, selecting and organising information
4. Participation in a responsible way: so that students make a safe use of the Internet and interact in a sensible way
5. Use of critical thinking: problem-solving, developing projects and making informed decisions when using online resources
6. Autonomous use of ICT: covers the way students use technology in everyday life. This means that students transfer the skills learnt in different contexts

In this lesson plan, students go through different dimensions. To begin with, they use creativity and innovation because they have to create a mind map. Besides, they focus on information management because, as they do the mind map, they need to organize the information and to know where it should be written. In the “What’s next” part, they need to use critical thinking to create new ideas and finally, they will have developed an autonomous use of ICT because they will have more tools than before to work on different topics.

The triple "E" framework

This framework encourages teachers to go beyond an instrumental use of technology and consider how it can extend and enhance learning goals and it is based on three components: Engagement in learning goals, Enhancement of learning goals and Extension of learning goals.

The use of Cacoo in this lesson plan can be analysed taking this into account:

Engagement: the use of this tool engages students because they have more options than if they were working in paper. It is faster and they can work collaboratively.

Enhancement: the website presents students with production situations. They get to create their own work and to shape it as they want.

Extension: as an extension, students can share and publish their work with only a click. They get to work collaboratively and to show their work to other people by sending it or posting it anywhere.