Effective School Management

Spidergrams
Another approach to generating ideas is the ‘spidergram’ or ‘mind pattern’, a
technique which can also be used in a group, or individually, for organizing
or recalling ideas. It is an excellent basis for planning an essay or report. The
technique consists of setting down the subject as a central point and adding
on the other ideas around this point as they emerge. Normally the first
thoughts will be immediate associations or main branches from the word but
this will not always be the case, and additional main branches may emerge as
we proceed.
Thus, if we start with the subject of curriculum development, the first
ideas that emerge may be illustrated in Figure 5.1. We may then be ‘triggered’
by one of the main branches – see Figure 5.2.
Next a subject such as ‘funds’ may be linked with a number of other issues
such as ‘retraining’ and ‘teaching materials’ – this we can illustrate by a link
line between the subjects in another colour.
The value of the method is that it enables the individual or group to collect
ideas and organize them as they spring to mind, rather than hold them back
until the relevant subject comes up in sequence. Furthermore, by letting our
eyes wander over the chart we constantly restimulate our brains in each area.
Whereas brainstorming can be used effectively in groups of up to twenty
people, spidergrams are best used in smaller groups. For further reading see
Buzan (2003).
Figure 5.1
Spidergram: first ideas

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EFFECTIVE
SCHOOL
MANAGEMENT