Mind Maps
"Mind Map" is a trade mark of the Buzan Organization
Mind Mapping is an important technique that improves the way you take notes, and supports and enhances your creative problem solving. By using Mind Maps, you can quickly identify and understand the structure of a subject and the way that pieces of information fit together, as well as recording the raw facts contained in normal notes. More than this, Mind Maps provide a structure which encourages creative problem solving, and they hold information in a format that your mind will find easy to remember and quick to review.Mind Mapping is an extremely effective method of taking notes. Mind Maps show not only facts, but also the overall structure of a subject and the relative importance of individual parts of it. They help you to associate ideas and make connections that might not otherwise make.
If you do any form of research or note taking, try experimenting with Mind Maps. You will find them surprisingly effective!
First, a few concepts—many of these will come clear as you read through the article:
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Mind mapping is a free flowing tool. There are no rights or wrongs to the process. Many people recommend using many different colored pens and drawing pictures. This may or may not be for you—yet anyway. The important thing is just to start. You can refine your mind mapping method as you go.
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Mind mapping is designed to use both sides of your brain—mind mapping involves your right and left brain thinking. The colors and picture drawing are the creative side, the note taking is the analytical side. By involving both sides of your brain you get better retention, more free-flowing ideas and maintain concentration.
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Only a few simple graphics will get you started:
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An arrow from one item to another indicates that one idea flows from one item to another
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An arrow pointing both ways indicates the subjects are of equal value and relate to one another
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A box or idea with no arrow is a floating topic. This is typically an important idea but off topic. It basically hovers outside your map but is there in case you need it.
Popularized by Tony Buzan, Mind Maps abandon the list format of conventional note taking. They do this in favor of a two-dimensional structure. A good Mind Map shows the 'shape' of the subject, the relative importance of individual points, and the way in which facts relate to one another.
Mind Maps are more compact than conventional notes, often taking up one side of paper. This helps you to make associations easily. If you find out more information after you have drawn the main Mind Map, then you can easily integrate it with little disruption.
Mind Maps are also useful for:
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Summarizing information;
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Consolidating information from different research sources;
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Thinking through complex problems; and
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Presenting information in a format that shows the overall structure of your subject.
They are very quick to review as you can often refresh information in your mind just by glancing at one. And in the same way, they can be effective mnemonics: Remembering the shape and structure of a Mind Map can give you the cues you need to remember the information within it. As such, they engage much more of your brain in the process of assimilating and connecting facts, compared with conventional notes.
Drawing Basic Mind Maps
To get started mind mapping a meeting, get the agenda ahead of time if possible.
To make notes on a subject using a Mind Map, draw it in the following way:
Step 1: Start at the center of the page
Our mind focuses on the center of the page. That´s why mindmapping® begins with a word or image that symbolizes what you want to think about placed in the middle of the page.
Step 2: Don´t be serious!
Write down or draw the first things that come up in your mind when you start to think about related issues, persons, object, goals... Put your thoughts around the central thought. These can be everything. Even if they look strange or unimportant.
Step 3: Free associate
As ideas emerge, print one or two word descriptions of the ideas on lines branching from the central focus. Allow the ideas to expand outward into branches and sub- branches. Put down all ideas without judgment or evaluation.
Step 4: Think as fast as you can
Come up with an explosion of ideas. Translate them in words, images, codes or symbols.
Step 5: There are no boundaries
Think "out-of the-box". Everything is possible. Use wild colors, fat colored markers, crayons, or skinny felt tipped pens. You haven't lived until you've mindmapped® a idea with hot pink and day-glo orange crayons.
Step 6: Don´t judge too fast
Again, everything is possible. Unrelated issues might me relevent later on. Think like you are brainstorming. Otherwise your mind will get stuck like a record in that "unrelated word" groove and you'll never generate those great ideas.
Step 7: Go, go, go....
Keep your hand moving. If ideas slow down, draw empty lines, and watch your brain automatically find ideas to put on them. Or change colors to reenergize your mind. Stand up and mindmap on an easel pad to generate even more energy.
Step 8: Add relationships and connections
Sometimes you see relationships and connections immediately and you can add sub-branches to a main idea. Sometimes you don't, so you just connect the ideas to the central focus. Organization can always come later; the first requirement is to get the ideas out of your head and onto the paper.
As you come across new information, link it in to the Mind Map appropriately.
A complete Mind Map may have main topic lines radiating in all directions from the center. Sub-topics and facts will branch off these, like branches and twigs from the trunk of a tree. You do not need to worry about the structure produced, as this will evolve of its own accord.
Improving your Mind Maps
Your Mind Maps are your own property: once you understand how to make notes in the Mind Map format, you can develop your own conventions to take them further. The following suggestions may help to increase their effectiveness:
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Start in the centre with an image of the topic, using at least 3 colours.
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Use images, symbols, codes and dimensions throughout your Mind Map.
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Select key words and print using upper or lower case letters.
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Each word/image must be alone and sitting on its own line.
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The lines must be connected, starting from the central image. The central lines are thicker, organic and flowing, becoming thinner as they radiate out from the centre.
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Make the lines the same length as the word/image.
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Use colours - your own code - throughout the Mind Map.
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Develop your own personal style of Mind Mapping.
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Use emphasis and show associations in your Mind Map.
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Keep the Mind Map clear by using Radiant hierarchy, numerical order or outlines to embrace your branches.
Mind mapping software can be used effectively to organise large amounts of information, combining
spatial organisation, dynamic hierarchical structuring and node folding.
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