Ideation Exercise – Mind Mapping
Mindmapping has been popularized by Tony Buzan, a top lecturer on the brain and learning, who dictates that Mind Maps abandon the list format of conventional note taking. According to Buzan, “a Mind Map is a thinking tool that reflects (externally) what is going on (internally) inside our minds.” Further, Buzan likens the mind map to a Swiss army knife for the brain; with different tools for our brain to function, the Mind Map is the ideal tool for anything we want to do in terms of,
● Thinking
● Contemplation
● Cognition
● Remembering
● Creating
Buzan proclaims,“The brain is radiant, meaning it thinks centrally, and explodes out in all directions.” As such, in a Mind Map, branches are curved and tapered rather than straight-lined, they are organic and free flowing, as opposed to structured and uniformed. “The brain thinks by imagination and association, thus the branches on a Mind Map are a reflection of the way the brain thinks. So, when you think of anything, you have your picture, and you have your associations off that.”
“Buzan asserts, “Traditional note-taking in lists and lines is counter-productive is because it doesn’t have the associations. If you don’t have associations, then you don’t have connections. If you don’t have connections, then you don’t have memory or thinking. In a Mind Map the branches are always curved, curvilinear, because nature is curvilinear. If all the branches are straight, it is literally rigid, similar, and therefore, boring. The brain will very quickly become unhappy with a whole bunch of rigid straight lines. The brain gets absorbed and intrigued by the beauty of curvilinear.”
Buzan touts Mind Maps as “straightforward and fun” To draw a Mind Map first start in the center of a blank page, then connect branches to the central key image or key word; and then connect 2nd and 3rd level branches to the 1st and the 2nd and so on. The important point to note in structuring Mind Maps is to use one key word per branch. “That one word with all its associations is “free.” If you put words together on a branch you’re making it more rigid. The single word per line approach gives you much more freedom, much more creativity, much more clarity. Ideally, the length of the word should be the length of the branch; because you want each branch to be connected and close.”
The Purpose
This strategy helps participants quickly relate a central word or concept. The mind forms associations almost instantaneously and 'mapping' allows you to write your ideas more quickly by using only words or phrases.
How to Mind Map
To make a mind map, start in the center of the page with the main idea, and work outward in all directions, producing a growing and organized structure composed of key words and key images.
● Take a large sheet of paper and place it horizontally in front of you.
● Draw a reasonably sized (colored) memorable central image that represents the topic you are going to be mapping.
● Draw at least 4 thick organic looking branches radiating outwards from the central image. Make sure to use a different color to represent each branch.
● Write “key topic” words along these branches that represent the central image and the topic you are mapping.
● Draw additional branches that extend from your main branches. The words on these branches are essentially sub-topics of the words you wrote on your main branches.
● Keep expanding the Mind Map outwards with additional sub sub-topics / key words and branches.
An Example Mind Map: Grouping Materials
Key features are:
● Organization
● Key Words
● Association
● Create Connections
● Clustering
● Visual Memory - Print the key words, use color, symbols, icons, 3D-effects,arrows and outlining groups of words
● “Outstandingness” - every Mind Map needs a unique center
● Conscious involvement
The Benefits of Mind Mapping
● Improved capacity to see the bigger picture.
● Improved capacity to see detailed information.
● Improved capacity to remember complex information.
● Improved capacity to remember related chunks of information.
● Improved capacity to cope with mental clutter.
● Improved capacity to cope and manage periods of information overload.
● Improved imagination.
● Improved memory and retention.
● Improved levels of concentration.
● Improved note-taking ability.
● Improved level of interest in the content or subject one is studying.
● Improved problem solving ability.
● Improved management of study and revision time for Academics.
● Helps unlock hidden understandings within information chunks.
● Helps unlock unexpected creative insights and ideas.
● Helps save time.
● Helps make learning fun.
● Clarifies goals.
● Clarifies plans of action.
● Clarifies ideas.
● Clarifies habitual patterns of thinking.
● Triggers creative associations.
● Triggers comparison of facts, stats, data and ideas.
● And much more that is based upon personal experience, need and ability.
Mind Mapping for Work Productivity
Here are some ways people utilize visual mapping at work:
• Planning sales strategy.
• Planning marketing strategy.
• Organizing and managing projects.
• Organizing and managing meetings.
• Preparing for networking.
• Preparing for interviews, and conducting interviews.
• Business planning.
• Research and development.
Mind Mapping for Academic Success
Here are some ways students utilize visual mapping at school:
• Learning languages.
• Learning grammar.
• Preparing for examinations.
• Preparing structure for essays.
• Preparing presentations.
• For teaching purposes.
• Brainstorming ideas.
• Problem solving.
• Thinking creatively and critically about topics.
• Memorizing subject notes, books and materials.
• For general study and revision of information.
Mind Mapping for Life Management
Here are some ways people utilize visual mapping to manage their life:
• Managing time.
• Managing events.
• Goal setting.
• Keeping a diary.
• Holiday planning.
• Financial planning.
• Tracking important dates, events and information.
Mind Maps are useful for:
● Summarizing information.
● Consolidating information from different research sources.
● Thinking through complex problems.
● Presenting information in a format that shows the overall structure of your subject.
● problem solving
● outline/framework design
● anonymous collaboration
● marriage of words and visuals
● individual expression of creativity
● condensing material into a concise and memorable format
● team building or synergy creating activity
● enhancing work morale
References
How to Mind Map: A Beginner’s Guide
http://blog.iqmatrix.com/mind-map/how-to-mind-map-a-beginners-guide
Mind Map
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map
What is Mind Mapping?
http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/mindmap/
Mind Maps, A Powerful Approach to Note taking http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_01.htm
What is Mind Mapping?
http://www.mindmapperusa.com/whats_mindmapping.htm
Mind Mapping – Basic Rules
http://www.teamwork.demon.co.uk/mind_maps/mind_basic.html
Maximize the Power of Your Brain - Tony Buzan MIND MAPPING http://www.youtube.com/v/MlabrWv25qQ?fs=1&hl=en_US
What is Mind Mapping?
http://www.youtube.com/v/WQj7pdwaggg?fs=1&hl=en_US
Mind Maps
http://www.youtube.com/v/4I8QaCeJZB4&hl=enfs=1&rel=0
How to Make a Mind Map – Version 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8_H42Z9wxA
Example of a Mind Map
http://www.michaelonmindmapping.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image/group_materials_mm.jpg