Enhancing Classroom Collaboration and Engagement with GitMind

A comprehensive guide to visual thinking and collaborative mind mapping in education

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the features and educational benefits of GitMind as a visual thinking and collaboration tool
  • Apply GitMind's sharing and collaboration functions to facilitate group work and interactive classroom activities

Mind Mapping Fundamentals

What is Mind Mapping?

Mind mapping combines left and right brain skills, producing a synergetic effect that multiplies the brain's learning and thinking power.

Different Types of Mind Maps

Concept Maps

Organize hierarchical information and relationships between ideas

Flowcharts

Process visualization and decision-making workflows

Fishbone Diagrams

Root cause analysis and problem-solving structures

Timeline Maps

Sequential information and historical event visualization

Organizational Charts

Structure and hierarchy visualization for teams

Tree Diagrams

Decision trees and categorical breakdown analysis

1
Start with a central idea
2
Add main branches and sub-branches
3
Connect ideas with relationship lines
4
Color-code the branches for better organization
5
Use visual design elements to enhance understanding

7 Ways Mind Maps Enhance Learning Outcomes

Stronger Memory and Recall

Visual organization improves information retention and makes complex concepts easier to remember

Boosted Creativity

Non-linear thinking encourages innovative solutions and creative problem-solving approaches

Greater Productivity

Streamlined information processing and organization saves time and improves efficiency

Collaborative Learning

Enhanced group work and idea sharing through visual collaboration tools

Clear Information Structure

Hierarchical organization improves understanding of complex relationships

Deeper Conceptual Understanding

Visual connections reveal relationships between concepts that might otherwise be missed

Flexible and Adaptable

Mind maps can be easily modified and expanded as understanding develops

Research Highlight

Dr. Michael Stanley, Boeing's chief aeronautical engineer, used a giant Mind Map to lead his team of 100 aeronautical engineers in building a new aircraft, saving the company over $12 million in just nine months.

GitMind: Mind Maps in a Digital Age

A free AI-powered tool for brainstorming and idea co-creation

AI-powered free collaborative mind mapping software for brainstorming and idea co-creation, stimulating the flow of ideas and allowing wisdom to spring forth organically.

Core Features

Multiple Templates

Pre-designed templates for education, business, project management, and more

Customizable Themes

Apply different visual styles, layouts, and color schemes to match your needs

Cloud Storage

Access your mind maps from anywhere with secure cloud synchronization

Real-time Collaboration

Work together with team members in real-time with live editing capabilities

Multi-format Export

Export to PDF, PNG, DOCX, and other formats for easy sharing

Cross-platform Sync

Seamlessly work across desktop, mobile, and web platforms

Template Categories

Education

Study plans, lesson planning, and academic projects

Business

Project management, strategic planning, and workflows

Personal

Goal setting, daily planning, and personal development

Creative

Brainstorming, storytelling, and creative projects

Collaboration Features

1
Share the collaboration link with team members who need access
2
Team members log in to their GitMind accounts when they open the link
3
Collaborate in real-time with live editing and instant updates
4
Use comments and notes to provide feedback and suggestions

Export and Sharing Options

Image Export

Export as JPG, PNG with transparent background, or high-definition images

Document Export

Export to Word (DOCX), plain text (TXT), or bulleted lists

Project Files

Save as GitMind project files (.gmind) for future editing

Sharing Links

Generate shareable links with customizable permissions

Getting Started with GitMind

Three Ways to Add Nodes

1. Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Essential Shortcuts

  • Add subnode Tab
  • Add sibling node Enter
  • Add parent node Shift + Tab
  • New line within node Shift + Enter

2. Using Toolbar Icons

Select a node and click the appropriate icons on the top toolbar to insert subnodes, sibling nodes, or parent nodes

3. Using Outline Mode

  • Enter: Create new node
  • Tab: Indent and create subnode
  • Shift + Tab: Decrease indent level

Text and Formatting Options

Text Editing

Double-click on any node to modify its content. Customize font style, size, color, alignment, and line spacing

Theme Application

Use the 'Magic Wand' icon for instant theme application, or manually select themes from the Style panel

Layout Options

Switch between Mind Map, Logic Chart, Tree Chart, Org Chart, and Fishbone Diagram layouts

Visual Enhancement

  • Add icons, stickers, and illustrations to make content more engaging
  • Insert images, videos, and hyperlinks for multimedia support
  • Use notes and equations for detailed explanations
  • Apply custom colors and shapes to nodes
  • Modify connector lines style, color, and thickness

Slide Show Mode

Present your mind maps with slide show functionality. Start from any specific node for targeted presentations

Split Screen Mode

Open multiple windows simultaneously for flexible multitasking. Browse web pages, use whiteboard, or chat with AI

Focus Mode

Concentrate on specific sections of your mind map by hiding distracting elements

Idea Flow

Facilitate brainstorming sessions and capture fleeting thoughts with AI-powered analysis

Version History

Track changes and revert to previous versions of your mind maps

File Management

Organize your mind maps with folders, search functionality, and easy sharing options

AI-Powered Tools

Transform Content into Mind Maps

GitMind's AI capabilities can automatically convert various types of content into structured mind maps, saving time and enhancing understanding.

AI Content Conversion Tools

  • Prompt to Mind Map: Generate mind maps from text descriptions and prompts
  • File to Mind Map: Convert PDFs, DOCs, PPTs, and other documents into visual maps
  • YouTube to Mind Map: Automatically summarize video content into structured mind maps
  • Website to Mind Map: Extract and organize information from web pages
  • Audio to Text Converter: Transcribe and visualize audio content with speaker detection
  • Image to Mind Map: Analyze and extract information from images

AI Chat Assistant

Get personalized help with mind mapping, brainstorming, and content organization through AI-powered chat support

Web Access Integration

Access real-time web information and incorporate current data into your mind maps

Smart Analysis

AI analyzes your ideas and provides insights, keyword extraction, and content suggestions

AI Art Generator

Create custom images and illustrations to enhance your mind maps with AI-generated visual content

GitMind Pricing Plans

Free Version

  • 10 files
  • 30 images per mind map
  • 500MB cloud storage
  • Basic export options
  • AI features (credits required)

Ways to Earn Free Credits

  • Daily login rewards
  • App store reviews
  • Social media sharing
  • Friend referrals
  • Community participation

Educational Applications

Mind Mapping Activities for Students

Revision Mind Maps

Organize study materials and key concepts for exam preparation. Visual summary of complex topics

Mind Map Presentations

Create engaging visual presentations that capture audience attention and improve information retention

Group Assignments

Collaborate on projects with shared mind maps, enabling real-time contribution and idea development

Reading Comprehension

Visualize and understand complex texts by mapping out main ideas, themes, and relationships

Mind Mapping Activities for Teachers

  • Curriculum overview creation for course planning and structure
  • Lesson plan development with visual organization of learning objectives
  • Class project organization and management with clear timelines
  • Rapid presentation creation for engaging classroom delivery
  • Discussion template design and critical thinking facilitation
  • Oral exam conduction and lesson review facilitation

Diploma of Vocational Education (Watch and Clock)

Analyze the structure of a mechanical watch and the relationships between its components using technical diagrams and hierarchical organization

Diploma of Vocational Education (Gas Services)

Organize gas safety measures and emergency response procedures with flowcharts and decision trees

Higher Diploma in Fashion Design

Map the history of fashion and evolution of styles using timeline visualizations and trend analysis

Higher Diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts

Organize dessert-making techniques and tool usage with process flowcharts and ingredient relationships

Advanced Teaching Applications

Whiteboard Integration

Unlimited canvas for creative brainstorming, academic knowledge organization, and collaborative drawing

Flowchart Creation

Design process flows, decision trees, and organizational structures for complex problem-solving

My Planets Feature

Create shared spaces for class collaboration where students can contribute, view files, and invite others

Assessment Integration

Use mind maps for formative assessment, peer review, and collaborative evaluation processes

Contact Information

Tiffany LAI

Project Officer / Centre for Learning and Teaching

✉️ Email: tiffanylai@vtc.edu.hk

📞 Phone: 29191559

Key Takeaways

  • Introduction to GitMind: A user-friendly platform for creating interactive and visually engaging mind maps
  • Benefits of Mind Mapping in Education: Improves memory retention, encourages higher-order thinking, and supports collaborative learning
  • Practical Applications: Suitable for both student learning activities and teacher instructional design