How do Mind Maps Work
Mind Maps are used to represent information and ideas in a visual form that the mind finds easier to remember. A central image or theme is located at the centre of the Mind Map and topics and subtopics are arranged around that central theme or topic.
Mind Maps are considered one of the most effective note taking strategies and a number of different mind mapping software tools exist to facilitate the creation of mind maps.
Why create Mind Maps
Mind Maps provide a quick and easy method of organizing and highlighting the information that matters. This is particularly useful when you are studying for an exam as normal notes can be time consuming and even a barrier to revision. They are also useful for improving creativity, generating new ideas and decision making.
They are a great tool when revising for exams as they enable you to see how the different topics and concepts are associated and provide visual cues which are great for quickly reviewing a subject before an exam and recalling information that would normally be lost from your long term memory.
How to create a Mind Map for revision
Lets say you want to use Mind Mapping to revise for an exam. It is a good idea to first determine how much knowledge of the subject you already have. This will help when you want to build upon that knowledge later by developing associations and connections from the knowledge you have already gained.
First obtain a large sheet of paper or if you are using Mind Mapping Software draw or add a central image at the centre of the page. Make it stand out with colour. Then Create branches from that central image for the main subtopics related to that central topic. The main topics should be written in larger text and highlight the most important areas. Add sub-branches by creating more branches emanating from the main topics. These subtopics should contain more in depth information and keywords or short phrases summarizing key ideas that you can recall from memory. Try and see how the different sub-topics and elements are associated.
Linear note taking is monotonous and boring. The key information does not stand out, they take longer to write and do not provide a quick way of summarizing the important information needed for an exam. Mind Maps highlight the important information by placing it nearer the centre in larger writing with images that can quickly sum up a key idea or topic. Try and sum up information with a few words or even better 1 keyword or image. Use plenty of colour and images. Organize the information like this helps you to build associations and is very usefully when you want to recall information at a glance.
Speed read books related to your subject after you have recalled as much of the topic as possible. There is a common myth that speed reading reduces comprehension and recall of information. Speed reading enables you to get a broader perspective of the information contained and helps you focus in on the important information. Getting a broad perspective of your subjects helps the mind to make associations and piece together the information particularly when you read the information in more depth. Before you speed read the book dont forget to flick through the book and look at the contents pages.
Now prioritise those books that provide the most valuable information when studying or revising and read them in greater depth.
Add more branches to your Mind Map and continue to add the key information after reading each section of the book. These keywords, images and phrases should sum up the main topics and subtopics.
Attempting to recall and write down what you have just read will greatly assist in reinforcing that information and will assist recall later by helping to absorb the information into your long term memory. It will also enable you to adjust your methods if you are finding it difficult to recall what you have just read.
Don’t forget to keep adding to your Mind Map after gaining knowledge that you consider important for the exam. Your Mind Map should become larger over time and more branches should be created moving even further from the central topic. Your Mind Map should become more detailed so make sure you use a large sheet of paper. If your using Mind Mapping Software you should add notes providing more in depth information if needed. Keep reviewing your Mind Map every few days to reinforce the information you have learned.
As the exam approaches you can review in detail what you have learned by glancing at your Mind Map which should now contain a detailed summary of your entire topic or subject.
Not having to read though lots of notes to find the key information for the exam will be a great time saver. As already stated the mind works best via images and creating associations between related information. The images, branches, and keywords will have helped you recall and reinforce the information during each review of the Mind Map and will enable you to recall at a glance what you have studied.
The mind can remember and recall knowledge much easier when it can visualise a subject from a broader perspective and can see how the different topics and subtopics are ordered and associated. . Combine this with the power of images which speak a thousand words and give the mind more mental hooks to latch onto then you have a very powerful and effective method for learning.