Mindmeister

Mindmeister is a development software of online mind maps pretty simple to use. Students of different ages can use this software to study in a more efficient and creative way. You can modify the design as you prefer and also modify them according to your ideas. Choose one of the map themes or customize your own maps with different colors, styles, and formattings. You can even upload background images.

Students can share the mind maps with their classmates and teachers to collaborate with them in real-time. They just have to invite them via email or through a link that the platform generates. Only the user can decide who can edit or just view the map.

Here you can watch a tutorial about the use of mindmeiter: 

Here are some examples of mind maps made by students:

For more information visit the web page: https://www.mindmeister.com/folders

1)    Why is this particular tool or technology relevant to language learning? What approaches to language learning or research underpin the use of this technology?

This tool is relevant for language learning because students can practice their writing skills to use it. They must connect and organize ideas before writing a more complex text such as an essay. This motivates students to participate because they use their own creativity to complete the task. They will be able to organize and plan any text in the way they want and not in base to a structured assessment.

2)    How might you use it to foster language learning? Think about your target audience.

I would use it to prepare a writing task in which they can choose the topic and organize information, planning it as they want to then apply all those ideas into a well-prepared text. 

3)    What limitations can you see with the use of this technology for the purposes of language learning?

if you lose track of what you are doing, the mind map can result in a mess of arrows, colors, images, and ideas. You have to put in there only the important concepts.