Mind mapping, memory or intelligence cards is a truly unique tool that helps us organize our plans and see clearly ways towards achieving our goals. We will tell you what is a mind map and how to use mind mapping tools.
When we think about some idea, our mind generates dozens of other disconnected thoughts that prevent us from having a general view of the main idea. Mind mapping is the best option to arrange your thoughts and look at your problem in the other way.
What is mind mapping?
Mind mapping was invented by Tony Buzan, outstanding British psychologist, who devoted his life to research on brain productivity and efficiency. In simple terms, the mind map is a schematic representation of your thoughts and ideas. Take an A4 sheet of paper. Write the main goal or problem in the center of the sheet. Draw the rays coming out the main goal, think about your goal and write down all methods and techniques that will help achieve the ultimate goal (one ray for one idea). Try to note everything popping in your head. Let’s say you want to successfully complete your academic year. What does it take to be a good student? For example, 100% attendance, turning in your assignment on time, start doing your term paper immediately after receiving the theme of research, etc. Place these subtasks around the main goals and connect them with the arrows. Subtasks can also grow into even smaller tasks. Thus, you can see the full picture and understand where to start and where to move.
Why does it work?
It’s all about brain structure. Mind mapping imitates the process of how ideas arise and develop in our brains. Radiant thinking is the way our brain works, i.e. when it receives any information (a word, a thought, a feeling of something), it becomes the central image. The central image forms a lot of new images (associations). Association, in turn, becomes the central image and then launches the chain of numerous associations, which form our memory. The process looks like this:
It`s easy to notice that the Mind Mapping process imitates brain activity, that`s why this method is much more efficient than, say, simple to-do lists. In addition, the memory cards is not just a convenient tool, but this method develops thinking, memory and creativity as well.
Who needs memory cards and why?
Mind Mapping helps comprise the whole problem, memorize information, ie, it helps both with the start-up development and learning your lecture notes.
Make a mind map if you need to:
- have a full picture of your plans or ideas;
- find new ideas and solutions for your problems;
- remember certain information.
How to make a mind map?
- Take a sheet of paper;
- Write your idea or problem in the center of the sheet;
- Write the ways or ideas which will help you to solve the main problem. This is the first level.
- Connect the problem and above-mentioned ideas from the first level;
- Specify your ideas from the first level. Create sub-tasks, write detailed notes or comments;
- Try to write all the thoughts coming to your head as you go along. Let your sub-tusks be as detailed as possible. Match them with your main goals.
You have a ready-made plan which may give you right direction.
A few tips to make your mind map even more effective:
- Do not get stacked on the same issue;
- Use a keyword for each cell;
- Add some graphics to your tasks. Our brain perceives pictures and images;
- Use different colors for specific tasks.
Why do we stand for applications?
We considered creating maps on paper, but practice shows that the use of special applications is much easier. First, you have no need to carry around your sheets of paper or colored markers in order to work with your mind map. Secondly, thoughts cross our minds constantly, not only when we are sitting in our studies. With the apps you can broaden your mind map, change the existing data, attach images or comments wherever you are.
We have compiled for you a list of applications to create your own digital maps:
- Coggle. Free and easy tool to exercise your creativity. Create beautiful cards, share them with friends or colleagues to work together.
- XMind. One of the most popular programs for creating mind maps. There is a basic free and enhanced paid version.
- Wisemapping. Individuals and businesses can take advantage of being able to share ideas with collaborators.
- FreeMind. A program to visualize ideas in the form of diagrams plans. You can use FreeMind to keep track of the progress of your projects to record thoughts, ideas and monitor the collective work.
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