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Mind Maps
A Powerful Approach to Note Taking
Related
variants: Spray Diagrams, Spider Diagrams, Spidograms, Spidergrams
and Mindmaps
Mind Map™
is a trade mark of the Buzan Organization
Mind Mapping
is a useful 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 encourage creative
problem solving, and they hold information in a format that
your mind finds easy to remember and quick to review.
Popularized
by Tony Buzan, Mind Maps abandon the list format of conventional
note taking. They do this in favor of a two-dimensional structure.
As such, 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.
And if you find out more information after you have drawn the main
Mind Map, then you can easily add it in.
Mind Maps are also useful for:
-
Summarizing information;
- Consolidating
information from different research sources;
- Thinking
through complex problems; and
- Presenting
information in a format that shows the overall structure of
your subject.
What's more, they are very quick to review as you can often refresh information
in your mind just by glancing at one. 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 Simple Mind Maps
The original Mind Tools site was planned and researched using
Mind Maps. They are too large to publish here, however part
of one is shown below. This shows research into time
management skills:
Figure
1: An Example Mind Map
To make notes on a subject using a Mind Map, draw it in the
following way:
- Write
the title of the subject you're exploring in the center of
the page, and draw a circle around it. This is shown by the
circle marked 1 in Figure 1, above.
- As
you come across major subdivisions or subheadings of the topic
(or important facts that relate to the subject) draw lines
out from this circle. Label these lines with these subdivisions
or subheadings. These are shown by the lines marked 2 in Figure
1.
- As
you "burrow" into the subject and uncover another
level of information (further subheadings, or individual facts)
belonging to the subheadings above, draw these as lines linked
to the subheading lines. These are shown by the lines marked
3 in Figure 1.
- Finally,
for individual facts or ideas, draw lines out from the appropriate
heading line and label them. These are shown by the lines
marked 4 in Figure 1.
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 as you develop your mind map.
Note that the idea of numbered 'levels' in Figure 1 is only
used to explain how the Mind Map was created. All we are showing
is that major headings radiate from the center, with lower level
headings and facts branching off from the higher level headings.
While drawing Mind Maps by hand is appropriate in many cases,
software tools like MindGenius
improve the process by helping to you to produce presentation quality
Concept Maps, which can easily be edited, distributed and redrafted.
Improving your Mind Maps
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:
- Use
single words or simple phrases for information: Most words
in normal writing are padding: They convey facts in the correct context, and in a format that is pleasant
to read. In your own Mind Maps, single strong words and meaningful
phrases can convey the same meaning more potently. Excess
words just clutter the Mind Map.
- Print
words: Joined up or indistinct writing can be more difficult
to read.
- Use
color to separate different ideas: This will help you to separate ideas where necessary. It also
makes your Mind Map easier to remember. Color also
helps to show the organization of the subject.
- Use
symbols and images:
Where a symbol or picture means something to you, use it.
Pictures can help you to remember information more effectively
than words.
- Using
cross-linkages:
Information in one part of the Mind Map may relate to another
part. Here you can draw in lines to show the cross-linkages.
This helps you to see how one part of the subject connects with
another.
Click on the thumbnail below for a great example of a mind map that has extremely high visual impact.
Key points:
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 highly effective!
Mind
Mapping & Business Creativity Software Training
- FREE
Mind Mapping
is just one of the business creativity and problem
solving techniques that become even more powerful
when supported by computer-based tools. Others include
Brainstorming, Cause & Effect Analysis, Impact
Analysis and SWOT Analysis.
So that you can see this for yourself,
learn these techniques and improve your problem-solving
skills, sign up for our free six-part
"Mind Tools MindGenius E-class". In one
email-based class a week for six weeks, you'll learn
how to use these powerful techniques to greatest
effect, supported by the MindGenius Mind Mapping
software.
Sign up
below, and start right away!
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In the next article, we look at SQ3R, a useful technique for
getting the most out of material you read. To read this, click
'Next article' below. Other relevant destinations are shown
in the "Extension Resources" list underneath.
Spread
the word:
Extension Resources (Not included in the
Mind Tools E-book.)
* Shows articles available
in full only to Career
Excellence Club Premium members.
The Cornell Approach
to Note Taking - Taking notes effectively and efficiently*
Delivering
Great Presentations - Communicating effectively*
Keep
It Simple - Avoiding confusion and complexity*
Charts
and Graphs - Choosing the right format
Chunking
- Grouping information so it's more easily understood
Affinity Diagrams
- Organizing ideas into common themes
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