Journal 6

“Mapping Student Minds” by Ariel Owen is an article mainly for future educators that will be teaching the science subject. This article is very interesting, and it provides ideas on how to teach students cause and effect relationships and encourage critical thinking. The author explains in seven steps using the “Pine Creek” project how mapping helped students learn cause and effect relationships.
“Gathering Data”- a field trip to Pine Creek provides hands on investigation and data collection. Other tools used to analyze and collect data are spreadsheets. By looking at the data students see “variations in measurements and begin to understand that the creek is a dynamic entity.
“Building Casual Maps”- this allows for students to collaborate, and it is a map designed to portray the relationship between cause and effect. “Cause and effect is developed throughout the process as they define relationships, create a casual map, refine map, and present to others.”
“Define Relationships”- teacher presents a project in which it encourages students to discuss the consequences as cause and effect.
“Creating the Map”- students begin preparing the actual map while discussing and negotiating. This encourages students to think out loud.
“Refining the Map”- Encourages critical thinking, and also student and teacher learning and listening.
“Presenting the Map”- Chose one map and then present in class students take positions on defending the map.
“Troubleshooting”- encourage by helping students focus on the main ideas.
This project portrays the relationships in a visual and tactile way. The casual mapping tool can not be applied to every situation, but whenever “there is measurable data and dynamic cause and effect relationships in that data.”

As a teacher would I use the casual mapping tool?
I think I would, specially being a social studies teacher, a lot of historic events can be better understood by the cause and effect relationship. I also think it is a fun learning experience for students.

Can this be used just for science?
As the author states, casual mapping can only be used whenever “there is measurable data and dynamic cause and effect relationship.