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Mind Mapping

Showing the linkages from an issue, concept or problem with other concepts or issues. Explanation of Mind Mapping.

Contributed by: Cees van Halen

What is Mind Mapping - Mind MapWhat is Mind Mapping? Description

Mind Mapping is a popular brainstorming tool and learning technique of visually arranging ideas and their interconnections. It can be used to graphically arrange the linkages of some central concept or issue with other concepts or issues into memorable treelike diagrams. It allows you to create, capture, organize, and communicate readily understood and highly interactive visual representations of complex ideas, information, and data.

 

A mind map always starts from some problem or issue which is positioned in the center. Typically it contains words, short phrases and pictures, which are connected to the central issue by lines.

 

Most people are visually oriented. Using structure, words, color, images, and hyperlinks (and sounds) to bring concepts to life, Mind Mapping links a central concept or issue with related concepts or issues. Unlike linear thinking modes (that you probably learned at school) it stimulates imagination and creativity, by connecting left and right brain thinking. Thus it is believed to harness the full range of your analytical and creative skills.

 

Origin of Mind Mapping. History

Radial drawings have already been used for centuries to analyze all kinds of problems. An early example is the graphical representation of the categories of Aristotle by Neoplatonist thinker Poephyry in the 3rd century. Tony Buzan, a British psychologist and a business creativity guru, was seeking a visual and faster way of outlining ideas on paper to support learning and memorizing. He made the modern Mind Map popular in the 60s.

 

Usage of Mind Maps. Applications

Commonly, the following functions have been described for Mind Mapping in literature:

  1. To visualize human information exchange (e.g. workshops, project or staff meetings, brainstorm sessions and strategy sessions).
  2. To organize, reorganize and filter the thoughts and ideas that are collected.
  3. Usage of Mind Maps. ApplicationsTo analyze and structure the information, to identify relationships between key points.
  4. To improve knowledge management systems. The Mind Map can be used as a visual interface that contains information or external links. Latest software allows automatic build-up of the Mind Map by search engines and renewal of the content by refreshing.
  5. To produce and present information in a better way. Mind Maps can be automatically converted to other forms of communication, such as: web sites, MSPowerpoint presentations, Projectmanagement information, MSWord files and MSOutlook tasks.
  6. To better manage the information for meetings, presentations, projects, proposals, research, contacts, etc. Both in the preparation phase, the execution phase and the follow-up phase.

Mind Maps can be used for a large range of activities, including:

  • Note-taking and reporting. Recall.
  • Brainstorm. Improve creativity. Capture ideas. Compare: Cause and Effect Diagram
  • Clarifying of thoughts. Summarizing. Gain an overview. See topics in their context. Presentation.
  • Presentation.
  • Planning.
  • Analyze and solve complex problems.
  • Team building.
  • Collapse or expand topics to see more or to see less detail (through software).
  • Support group communication processes (through software).

Software for Mind Mapping. Programs

You can draw mind maps by hand, during a lecture or meeting, but the process can also be supported by specialized Mind Mapping software, resulting in additional benefits and new and interesting application areas. Mind Mapping software can be used on several levels:

  • Individual use. To increase personal effectiveness (elaborating ideas and plans, control over complex information, time and project management).
  • Use in teams. To increase creativity and team work (brainstorming, staff meetings, project meetings, project management, knowledge management).
  • Use at events. To increase interaction and stakeholder communication, visualize discussions and enable easy reporting mechanisms in the follow-up of the events such as conferences, workshops and seminars.
  • Corporate use. To create an open and collaborative culture and to standardize and support work processes (project management, procurement, HRM, sales & marketing, research & development).

Tips for Mind Mapping. ProcessHints for Mind Mapping. Process

Some generic hints to create a good mind map are:

  1. Position the main idea in the center. Preferably a picture of it.
  2. Use lots of space, so you can add things later.
  3. Use colors and capitals where useful. Personalize the map.
  4. Look for relationships.
  5. Create sub centers for sub themes.

Strengths of Mind Mapping. Benefits

  • Simplicity. Ease of use.
  • Associative. Any idea probably has many links.
  • Visual. Easy to remember.
  • Radial. Allows you to work in all directions.
  • Overview. Helps to see the big picture and relationships between issues.

Strengths of Mind Mapping software. Benefits

  • On a technical level.
    • A mind map can be collapsed or expanded to quickly increase or decrease the level of detail.
    • A mind map can be filtered (priorities, key words, colors) to produce customized versions of the ‘mother’ Mind Map.
    • Mind maps can be enriched by: texts, graphics, spreadsheet info, links to files, websites and RSS-feeds.
    • Mind maps can be linked to produce multi-maps.
    • Various modes of collaboration can be supported (such as brainstorming, presentation, building, customizing, project management, research).
    • Mind Maps can be converted to almost all traditional forms of communication (vice versa).
  • On a functional level.
    • Flexible idea capturing and filtering mechanisms.
    • Various modes of presentation (Mind Map, website, PowerPoint, etc).
    • Reporting (Mind Map, Word, Outlook, Visio, etc).
    • Implementation – project management.
  • On a knowledge and information management level.
    • Software can connect people in a direct and effective way to information.
    • Knowledge and Information processes are better integrated in work of people.
    • Information is better managed and needless duplication of information is avoided as the information of the Mind Map can be transformed and synchronized very easily.

Book: Tony Buzan - The Mind Map Book: How to Use Radiant Thinking to Maximize Your Brain's Untapped Potential -

 

Mind Mapping Forum

Recent User Comments
Dr_Honarpisheh - Iran Theories of Education "I've been working on the application of the theories of education using mind mapping and it helped me a lot. I recommend it strongly."    1
mais - jordan thanks "really ، as a medical student ، mind mapping has been a great help for me and many other stidents with it u can't forget complex information within days and it also saves alot of time reading from the main book"    5
 - uk mind mapping and decomposition "I find mind mapping a rather simplistic technique as it is based on two basic ideas which underpin analytical thinking. Functional decompostion and classification. These two techniques are inherently dangerouse as they assume things can be neatly classified - OK for ordering a few thoughts. The real world invariably involves messy/wicked problems which mind mapping cannot really deal with. Cognitive mapping is a very much better technique which allows for emergence properties to be explored along with multiple perspectives."    6
Jennifer - Australia How to Mind Map "Like your article on Mind Mapping and like Kudzai, I used Mind Maps to do my Masters in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Here is a link to a Mind Map I created on how to Mind Map that you might find useful buzan.com.au/learning/mindmapgallery.html cheers Jennifer"    11
Kudzai Nyangoni - S.Africa Mind Mapping "Since I learnt about mindmapping during my MBA studies, I have used it extensively in note taking, brainstorming and leading discussions. It is a very powerful tool as it enables you to note important points only. The tendency in discussions is to digress, Mind mapping keeps you on track & focusing on important issues. I now use the Mind Map software which is great for presentations. Mind Mapping augurs very well for my engineering training. Go ahead and use it. It is great fun yet so powerful."    8
Best User Comments
Thomas S. Morris - USA 7 more Mind Mapping Hints "Here are a few more Mind Mapping Tips that I have found useful in my teaching practice: 6. Use simple phrases (avoid any excess words) 7. Use images and symbols (are more easy to remember) 8. Use blank paper and landscape orientation 9. First level words are big and in CAPITALS 10. Main connection lines are thick, others thinner 11. Use no straight lines (boring and harder to remember 12. Add some humor (your brain will delight)"    46

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Compare with Mind Mapping: Brainstorming  |  Whole Brain  |  Six Thinking Hats  |  Metaplan  |  Scenario Planning  |  Root Cause Analysis  |  Dialectical Inquiry  |  Analogical Strategic Reasoning  |  Theory of Constraints  |  Catalytic Mechanisms  |  Delphi Method  |  Pyramid Principle

 

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  § Editor (NL) Mind Mapping in Education "Maybe you could share some of your conclusions or best practices?"

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  § Ariane (France) Connecting Areas in Mind Maps "13. You can also add Cross-Linkages, relating a topic in one area of a Mind Map to one in another area. Write the impact/effect besides the cross-linkage."

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