APPLICATION OF ONLINE MIND MAPPING TOOLS IN ENHANCING COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION SKILLS FOR STUDENTS AT HANOI METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

Abstract

In the context of modern higher education, the development of comprehensive capacity for students, especially communication and collaboration skills - two essential soft skills of the 21st century - is increasingly focused on. Many studies show that the application of technology, especially online mind mapping tools, brings many opportunities to innovate teaching methods and improve soft skills for students. However, at many training institutions, including Hanoi Capital University, the integration of these tools in teaching English to non-major students is still not really popular and effective. Survey results show

that most students are aware of the benefits of online mind mapping, especially in supporting learning, communication and teamwork, but the frequency of use is still low, mainly due to the lack of orientation and support from lecturers. From this situation, the study proposes a number of solutions to improve the effectiveness of using this tool, including: organizing technology skills training for both lecturers and students, integrating mind maps into group activities, adjusting appropriate assessment methods and building a digital learning environment that supports collaboration. The study has practical significance in promoting innovation in English teaching methods towards competency development, while opening up further research directions on the application and comparison of the effectiveness of digital thinking tools in many different educational contexts.