Mind Map Tool

➢ Challenge & Selection

The Mind Map shows the "shape" of the subject, the relative importance of  individual points, and the ways in which facts relate to one another. Research  shows that this is of particular benefit when dealing with complex information,  such as during business planning and strategy development.

Mind Maps are more compact than conventional notes, and often take up just one  side of paper. This helps you to make associations and to generate new ideas. You  can also add new information easily, even to a Mind Map that you've already  drawn.

Mind Mapping can also help you to break down large projects or topics into  manageable chunks, so that you can plan effectively without getting overwhelmed  and without forgetting something important.

➢ Application

Mind Maps are useful for, Brainstorming (individually, and as a group),  summarizing information, taking notes, consolidating information from different  sources, thinking through complex problems, presenting information clearly,  studying and memorizing information.

Mind Maps are also good for refreshing information in your mind. When you  commit the shape and structure of a Mind Map to memory, you can often get the  cues you need to remember the information it contains just by glancing quickly at  the Map. Studies have shown that this makes them highly valuable when you're  learning a language, for example. We can really get inventive with Mind Maps, so  they are great for boosting creativity, too. When we include colors, images or  drawings, they can even resemble a work of art.

➢ Insight & Approach

What I have learned from conducting this exercise with several groups is that  Mind mapping is a simple, visual way to organize your ideas for better clarity and  recall. Mind maps focus on only one central concept or idea and are based on  radial hierarchies and tree structures. All that in 5 steps:

• Create a Central Idea

The central idea is the starting point of your Mind Map and represents the topic  you are going to explore.

This should be in the center of your page and can include an image or colour that  fits with your Mind Map’s topic. This draws attention and triggers associations, as  our brains respond better to visual stimuli.

Taking the time to personalize your central idea, whether it’s hand-drawn or made  digitally, will strengthen the connection you have with the content in your Mind  Map.

• Add branches to your map

The next step to get your creative juices flowing is to add branches. The main  branches which flow from the central image are the key themes. You can explore  each of the themes in greater depth by adding child branches.

The beauty of a Mind Map is that you can keep adding new branches and you’re  not restricted to just a few options. Remember, the way your Mind Map spans out  will come naturally as you add more ideas and your brain freely draws new  associations from the different concepts.

• Add keywords

When you add a branch to your Mind Map, you will need to include a key idea. Try  to keep this idea as brief as possible; this will allow you to spark off a greater  number of associations, compared to longer more complex phrase.

• Color code your branches

Mind Mapping encourages whole brain thinking as it brings together a wide range  of cortical skills from logical and numerical, to creative and special.

The overlap of such skills makes your brain more synergetic and maintains its  optimal working level. Keeping these cortical skills isolated from one another does  not help brain development, which a Mind Map seeks to do.

One example of whole brain thinking is color coding your Mind Maps. Color coding  links the visual with the logical and helps your brain to create mental shortcuts. It  allows you to categorize, highlight, analyze information and identify more  connections which would not have previously been discovered.

• Include visual signifiers

Don’t forget to add images and other visual elements to your Mind Map as images  have the power to convey much more information than a word, sentence or even  an essay.

Why is this important? Images are processed instantly by the brain and act as  visual stimuli to recall information. They are also a universal language that can  overcome any language barrier.


Mind Map Tool ➢ Challenge & Selection The Mind Map shows the " shape " of the subject , the relative importance of individual points , and the ways in which facts relate to one another . Research shows that this is of particular benefit when dealing with complex information , such as during business planning and strategy development . Mind Maps are more compact than conventional notes , and often take up just one side of paper . This helps you to make associations and to generate new ideas . You can also add new information easily , even to a Mind Map that you 've already drawn . Mind Mapping can also help you to break down large projects or topics into manageable chunks , so that you can plan effectively without getting overwhelmed and without forgetting something important . ➢ Application Mind Maps are useful for , Brainstorming ( individually , and as a group ) , summarizing information , taking notes , consolidating information from different sources , thinking through complex problems , presenting information clearly , studying and memorizing information . Mind Maps are also good for refreshing information in your mind . When you commit the shape and structure of a Mind Map to memory , you can often get the cues you need to remember the information it contains just by glancing quickly at the Map . Studies have shown that this makes them highly valuable when you 're learning a language , for example . We can really get inventive with Mind Maps , so they are great for boosting creativity , too . When we include colors , images or drawings , they can even resemble a work of art . ➢ Insight & Approach What I have learned from conducting this exercise with several groups is that Mind mapping is a simple , visual way to organize your ideas for better clarity and recall . Mind maps focus on only one central concept or idea and are based on radial hierarchies and tree structures . All that in 5 steps : • Create a Central Idea The central idea is the starting point of your Mind Map and represents the topic you are going to explore . This should be in the center of your page and can include an image or colour that fits with your Mind Map ’s topic . This draws attention and triggers associations , as our brains respond better to visual stimuli . Taking the time to personalize your central idea , whether it ’s hand - drawn or made digitally , will strengthen the connection you have with the content in your Mind Map . • Add branches to your map The next step to get your creative juices flowing is to add branches . The main branches which flow from the central image are the key themes . You can explore each of the themes in greater depth by adding child branches . The beauty of a Mind Map is that you can keep adding new branches and you ’re not restricted to just a few options . Remember , the way your Mind Map spans out will come naturally as you add more ideas and your brain freely draws new associations from the different concepts . • Add keywords When you add a branch to your Mind Map , you will need to include a key idea . Try to keep this idea as brief as possible ; this will allow you to spark off a greater number of associations , compared to longer more complex phrase . • Color code your branches Mind Mapping encourages whole brain thinking as it brings together a wide range of cortical skills from logical and numerical , to creative and special . The overlap of such skills makes your brain more synergetic and maintains its optimal working level . Keeping these cortical skills isolated from one another does not help brain development , which a Mind Map seeks to do . One example of whole brain thinking is color coding your Mind Maps . Color coding links the visual with the logical and helps your brain to create mental shortcuts . It allows you to categorize , highlight , analyze information and identify more connections which would not have previously been discovered . • Include visual signifiers Do n’t forget to add images and other visual elements to your Mind Map as images have the power to convey much more information than a word , sentence or even an essay . Why is this important ? Images are processed instantly by the brain and act as visual stimuli to recall information . They are also a universal language that can overcome any language barrier .