On March 19, 2026, we visited Zespół Szkół nr 12 in Wrocław to lead a workshop as part of the international OCTOPUS project (2025–2028). The session was full of energy, exchange of ideas, and – most importantly – hands-on practice.

Our goal was to show how mind maps and our accompanying methodological e-book can support the teaching of history and socio-cultural topics – especially when working with students who face chronic illnesses or learning challenges. The teachers’ insights and reflections were incredibly valuable, as their experience working with students with special educational needs is an invaluable source of knowledge.

After a brief introduction to the project and our approach to mind mapping, we quickly got to work. Participants worked in groups to test our exercises:

🔹 “Tabula rasa” – starting from scratch. Teachers filled in a blank mind map based solely on their own associations, then compared their work to the prepared material. This exercise is a great way to activate existing knowledge and see what’s already “in your head” without referring to textbooks or the internet. It also helped us, the project creators, ensure we hadn’t missed any important topics and refine our mind maps.

🔹 “Who am I?” – this one brought a lot of energy! Participants took on historical figures, using gestures, facial expressions, and associations. It was full of laughter, but also required focus, quick thinking, and memorization.

All exercises relied on collaboration, movement, and gamification – key elements that keep learners engaged and make the learning process more effective.

The workshop concluded with a discussion where teachers shared their impressions and ideas for using the tools in everyday teaching. This was an incredibly valuable moment, full of practical tips and inspiration.

This workshop was another important step in developing the OCTOPUS project. Sessions like this not only allow us to test our materials but also help us tailor them to the real needs of teachers and students.