Mind Maps®

A Powerful Approach to Note-Taking

(Also known as Mind Mapping, Concept Mapping, Spray Diagrams,
and Spider Diagrams)

Have you ever studied a subject or brainstormed an idea,

only to find yourself with pages of information, but no clear
view of how it fits together?

This is where Mind Mapping can help.

Mind Mapping is a useful technique that supports learning, improves information

recording, shows how different facts and ideas are related, and enhances creative
problem solving. Read on to find out more.

About Mind Maps

Mind Maps were popularized by author and consultant, Tony Buzan. They use a two-
dimensional structure, instead of the list format conventionally used to take notes. This
makes information easier to remember, as it's held in a format that our minds find easy to
recall and quick to review.

A good 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.

What Can I Use Mind Maps For?

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.

You can really get inventive with Mind Maps, so they are great for boosting creativity, too.
When you include colors, images or drawings, they can even resemble a work of art!

How to Draw a Basic Mind Map

To draw a Mind Map, follow these five steps:

Step 1. Write the title of the subject or project that you're exploring in the center of a page
and draw a circle around it, as shown in figure 1, below.

(Our simple example shows a Mind Map of the actions needed to deliver a successful
presentation.)

Figure 1.
Step 2. Draw lines out from this circle as you think of subheadings of the topic or important
facts or tasks that relate to your subject. Label these lines with your subheadings. (See
figure 2, below.)

Figure 2.

Step 3. Dive deeper into the subject to uncover the next level of information (related sub-
topics, tasks or facts, for example). Then, link these to the relevant subheadings. (See
figure 3, below.)

Figure 3.
Step 4. Repeat the process for the next level of facts, tasks and ideas. Draw lines out from
the appropriate headings and label them, as shown in figure 4, below.

Figure 4.
Step 5. As you discover new information or think of additional tasks, add them to your
Mind Map in the appropriate places.

A complete Mind Map may have main topic lines radiating in all directions from the center,
with sub-topics forking off these like branches and twigs from the trunk of a tree. You don't
need to worry about the structure you produce – this will evolve of its own accord.

Tip:
While drawing Mind Maps by hand is appropriate in many cases, software tools
and apps like Coggle, Bubbl.us, Mindmeister, MindGenius, iMindMap,
and Mindjet can improve the process by helping you to produce high-quality Mind
Maps, which you can then easily edit or redraft.

Using Mind Maps Effectively

Once you understand how to take notes in the Mind Map format, you can develop your
own conventions for taking them further. The following suggestions can help you to get the
most from your Mind Maps:

Use Single Words or Uncomplicated Phrases – Keep things simple. In Mind Maps,
single strong words and short, meaningful phrases can convey the same meaning
more potently. Excess words just clutter a Mind Map.

Print Words – They will be easier to read than joined-up or indistinct writing.

Use Color to Separate Different Ideas – Color can help to show the organization of
the subject. It can also make your Mind Map a more appealing document, and help you
to visualize the different sections of your Mind Map for future recall.

Use Symbols and Images – Pictures can help you to remember information more
effectively than words, so use symbols or pictures that mean something to you, use it.
(You can use photo libraries like iStock to source images inexpensively.)

Using Cross-Linkages – Information in one part of a Mind Map may relate to another
part, so draw lines to show these cross-linkages. This will help you to see how one part
of the subject affects another.
Visual Example

Click on the thumbnail below for a great example of a Mind Map with high visual impact:

Key Points
Mind Mapping is a powerful note-taking method. Mind Maps not only highlight
important facts, but also show the overall structure of a subject and the relative
importance of individual parts of it.

They are great when you need to think creatively, and can help you to make new
connections between ideas. This is useful when you have problems to solve.

To use Mind Maps effectively, it's best to print your words, to use different colors (to
add visual impact), and to incorporate symbols and images to spur creative
thinking.

If you do any form of research or note taking, try experimenting with Mind Maps.
You'll love using them!