Challenge

Mind mapping as a design thinking tool helps many of us in multiple situations. It can be used in  situations of various practices/activities or for organizing a personal or a family schedule or for  setting one’s career goals. More importantly, one can also do a case study analysis using the  mind mapping tool.

I belong to an educational institution as an academic administrator. I understand that, in an  educational setting, both for teachers and for students, a tool, such as mind mapping can be very  helpful. However, there are always various ways to make these mind maps work for us in  varying situations. Here, I explain about using the mind mapping tool, when working on a case  study analysis as part of my course in the class.

Selection

Let us find out as to whether our students can and why should they use mind maps.

In one way or another, probably all the students have used mind mapping technique, while  studying.  It is natural for our brain to multitask and to perceive the information simultaneously.  When we look at a picture, we see it all at once as a composite image that consists of different  details and features.

We naturally think in pictures, or rather collections of images and associations. Let me illustrate  an example now. You see a brand advertisement like Ronald McDonald and you think of a big  mac, then further of fries and cola, which you may have ordered being in your car, when you saw  a lamp indicating the necessity of oil change. You think that you need to hit a gas station, maybe  the next morning. But unfortunately, you cannot do it then as you have an important meeting in  the office that you have to attend. This is how Ronald McDonald brings you to the thought of a  work meeting.

On the whole, mind maps are very natural for our brain as they have similar connection structure.  That is why using these maps can improve all the processes connected to our brain activity,  including studying processes.

Application

While discussing case studies in the class, it is usually based on the material students go through  in their class. A lot of information can be taken from the notes one makes during the lessons.  When you make notes in class, mind mapping can help you a lot.

All students make notes. Most of them write these notes as a simple text, sometimes highlighting  the key points. Such notes have several disadvantages, though:

•  They have a difficult structure or no structure at all.

•  They take a lot of time to make.

•  It is hard to remember something from such notes.

•  Creative parts of the brain are not stimulated, as when you only write down what your  teacher says word by word, you can barely get any associations in your head.

The main flaw of these notes is the lack of structure and key categories. Such papers look like  walls of words. Sure, you can highlight some things, but it doesn’t help much. The primary  definitions are always hidden by the big amount of the text.

If you use mind maps for taking notes, you will remember the information more vividly,  especially if you have a photographic memory. Here are the pros of making notes with mind  maps:

•  You get a clear structure.

•  You comprehend the information better.

•  You memorize the main categories and key points.

•  You get a logical summary.

•  You get a minimum text, etc.

Therefore, start preparing for making case studies beforehand by writing clear notes. Please find  below an example of using a mind map on pricing models.

Insight

The process itself – organizing the material

Mind maps can really help you, if you have a lot of different material taken from books,  websites, magazines, encyclopedias, etc. If you are overwhelmed with loads of information and  don’t know where to start, you can begin with making a mind map adding the information that  you have and the sources.

You can start your work with pointing out the main thought, fundamental idea or the message  of your case study analysis. If you clearly know what you are writing this paper for and what  conclusion you want to come to, the rest is all about the technique.

The next step is formulating the central thesis of the case study. They can be the subheadings of  your work. Then, you can just add any key ideas and thoughts to every subheading. At this point,  your mind map will grow, and you will see the whole picture clearly. Thus, it will be much  easier for you to write the entire text of your case study analysis.

Approach

Using mind maps in case studies

Apart from using mind maps for preparing the material for writing a case study analysis, you can  use a map in the work itself.

You can either provide some information through a mind map; duplicate some part of the text to  make it clear and visual or to summarize the whole work in a clever way. The teachers would  most likely appreciate such a creative approach to writing a case study analysis, so one would  definitely try it once.

For creating a mind map, try not to make it too complicated; it may only confuse you and draw  you away from the main points. Sometimes it is easier to make several mind maps instead of  trying to fit too much information into just one. Or you might consider creating a concept map.

Using mind maps is not only a great thing for working on a case study analysis, but also an  excellent technique to use in other educational processes. You should work on your personal  style, as mind mapping is a creative activity that can be performed differently by different  people.

You can come up with your own ways of processing information and adding it to your maps. It  doesn’t matter if your maps are distinct from the ones of other students; every one of us thinks in  a different way. Let mind mapping show everyone the way he/she thinks.


Challenge Mind mapping as a design thinking tool helps many of us in multiple situations . It can be used in situations of various practices / activities or for organizing a personal or a family schedule or for setting one ’s career goals . More importantly , one can also do a case study analysis using the mind mapping tool . I belong to an educational institution as an academic administrator . I understand that , in an educational setting , both for teachers and for students , a tool , such as mind mapping can be very helpful . However , there are always various ways to make these mind maps work for us in varying situations . Here , I explain about using the mind mapping tool , when working on a case study analysis as part of my course in the class . Selection Let us find out as to whether our students can and why should they use mind maps . In one way or another , probably all the students have used mind mapping technique , while studying . It is natural for our brain to multitask and to perceive the information simultaneously . When we look at a picture , we see it all at once as a composite image that consists of different details and features . We naturally think in pictures , or rather collections of images and associations . Let me illustrate an example now . You see a brand advertisement like Ronald McDonald and you think of a big mac , then further of fries and cola , which you may have ordered being in your car , when you saw a lamp indicating the necessity of oil change . You think that you need to hit a gas station , maybe the next morning . But unfortunately , you can not do it then as you have an important meeting in the office that you have to attend . This is how Ronald McDonald brings you to the thought of a work meeting . On the whole , mind maps are very natural for our brain as they have similar connection structure . That is why using these maps can improve all the processes connected to our brain activity , including studying processes . Application While discussing case studies in the class , it is usually based on the material students go through in their class . A lot of information can be taken from the notes one makes during the lessons . When you make notes in class , mind mapping can help you a lot . All students make notes . Most of them write these notes as a simple text , sometimes highlighting the key points . Such notes have several disadvantages , though : • They have a difficult structure or no structure at all . • They take a lot of time to make . • It is hard to remember something from such notes . • Creative parts of the brain are not stimulated , as when you only write down what your teacher says word by word , you can barely get any associations in your head . The main flaw of these notes is the lack of structure and key categories . Such papers look like walls of words . Sure , you can highlight some things , but it does n’t help much . The primary definitions are always hidden by the big amount of the text . If you use mind maps for taking notes , you will remember the information more vividly , especially if you have a photographic memory . Here are the pros of making notes with mind maps : • You get a clear structure . • You comprehend the information better . • You memorize the main categories and key points . • You get a logical summary . • You get a minimum text , etc . Therefore , start preparing for making case studies beforehand by writing clear notes . Please find below an example of using a mind map on pricing models . Insight The process itself – organizing the material Mind maps can really help you , if you have a lot of different material taken from books , websites , magazines , encyclopedias , etc . If you are overwhelmed with loads of information and do n’t know where to start , you can begin with making a mind map adding the information that you have and the sources . You can start your work with pointing out the main thought , fundamental idea or the message of your case study analysis . If you clearly know what you are writing this paper for and what conclusion you want to come to , the rest is all about the technique . The next step is formulating the central thesis of the case study . They can be the subheadings of your work . Then , you can just add any key ideas and thoughts to every subheading . At this point , your mind map will grow , and you will see the whole picture clearly . Thus , it will be much easier for you to write the entire text of your case study analysis . Approach Using mind maps in case studies Apart from using mind maps for preparing the material for writing a case study analysis , you can use a map in the work itself . You can either provide some information through a mind map ; duplicate some part of the text to make it clear and visual or to summarize the whole work in a clever way . The teachers would most likely appreciate such a creative approach to writing a case study analysis , so one would definitely try it once . For creating a mind map , try not to make it too complicated ; it may only confuse you and draw you away from the main points . Sometimes it is easier to make several mind maps instead of trying to fit too much information into just one . Or you might consider creating a concept map . Using mind maps is not only a great thing for working on a case study analysis , but also an excellent technique to use in other educational processes . You should work on your personal style , as mind mapping is a creative activity that can be performed differently by different people . You can come up with your own ways of processing information and adding it to your maps . It does n’t matter if your maps are distinct from the ones of other students ; every one of us thinks in a different way . Let mind mapping show everyone the way he / she thinks .