The Building Blocks and Balloons model by Malcolm Macmillan is a more organised version of mind mapping. It is designed to help learners who find traditional mind maps too unstructured. Here are some ways you can use this model:
Organising Concepts: Every concept, whether it’s a psychological theory, legislation, or mathematical process, has basic principles. The Building Blocks represent these foundational principles, while the Balloons identify the core skills or information related to each principle
Customisation: The level of detail in both the Building Blocks and Balloons can be tailored to your learning style. For example, you can use matching colours for corresponding Building Blocks and Balloons or have a white background with the same colour text in both.
Examples: The model can be applied to various subjects. For instance, the example below sets out the outcomes and Knowledge and/or skills for the SQA HN Unit Care in Contemporary Society. The Building Blocks identify the Unit Outcomes whilst the Balloons provide the details of Knowledge and/or skills to be demonstrated or developed relating to the specific Building Block.
Flexibility: The model allows for flexibility in how you present and organise information. You can choose the level of detail and the visual style that best suits your learning and recollection abilities
Above you find the Attachment Styles identified by Mary Ainsworth and Mary Main. The Building Blocks contain labels defined by the researchers, and the Balloons note the behaviour of children in relation to these labels.
Step-by-Step Example: Attachment Styles
- Identify the Concept:
- The concept we are focusing on is Attachment Styles.
- Define the Building Blocks:
- The Building Blocks represent the foundational principles or labels defined by the researchers. In this case, the Building Blocks are the different types of attachment styles identified by Ainsworth and Main:
- Secure Attachment
- Avoidant Attachment
- Ambivalent/Resistant Attachment
- Disorganised Attachment
- The Building Blocks represent the foundational principles or labels defined by the researchers. In this case, the Building Blocks are the different types of attachment styles identified by Ainsworth and Main:
- Detail the Balloons:
- The Balloons identify the core skills or information related to each Building Block. For each attachment style, we will note the behaviour of children in relation to these labels:
- Secure Attachment: Children feel confident that their caregiver will meet their needs. They show distress when the caregiver leaves but are easily comforted upon their return.
- Avoidant Attachment: Children do not seek much contact or comfort from their caregiver. They show little to no distress when the caregiver leaves and do not seek comfort upon their return.
- Ambivalent/Resistant Attachment: Children are very distressed when the caregiver leaves and are not easily comforted upon their return. They may show anger or resistance towards the caregiver.
- Disorganised Attachment: Children display a lack of clear attachment behaviour. Their actions and responses to the caregiver are often inconsistent and confused.
- The Balloons identify the core skills or information related to each Building Block. For each attachment style, we will note the behaviour of children in relation to these labels:
- Customise the Model:
- You can customise the visual presentation of the Building Blocks and Balloons to suit your learning style. For example, you can use matching colours for corresponding Building Blocks and Balloons or have a white background with the same colour text in both.
- Apply the Model:
- Use the model to organise and present information in a structured way. This can help you better understand and remember the different attachment styles and their associated behaviours.
The above demonstrate the Attachment Styles identified by Mary Ainsworth and Mary Main following their “Strange Situation” research. The Building Blocks contain only labels, as defined by the researchers, with the behaviour of the children noted in relation to the corresponding label. There are different ways to make the model work for you. You can have the Building Blocks and Balloons in matching colours or have a white background with same colour of text in corresponding Building Blocks and Balloons, as seen below.
Building Blocks and Balloons is an adaptable model to assist in your learning. We have created a downloadable version for you to try:
Contact us macmillancentreforlearning@gmail.com if you have any feedback we could use to assist you further