Aha! Mind Maps - An Accelerated Learning Tool

I read this book about The Berlin Wall. I enjoyed the read and it was very informative. One of my goals of reading is to learn, remember and hope that the lessons will be valuable to me in dealing with life challenges when the time comes.

Mind mapping is one of the tools I have been using very successfully to accelerate my learning, facilitate memory and recall after my reading. One can mind map a particular topic, a chapter of the book, or the entire book. It's up to you, depends what you wish to learn more deeply and commit to memory. Mind maps are not difficult to do, one just need to have the discipline. Here's a mind map I did after I read the above book. I added in my own smiles, drawings and symbols to make it more interesting and fun. Learning should be fun.

What is the purpose of mind mapping?

A mind map provides a quick way to summarize an entire subject, book, audio program or seminar in a single easily remembered form. To create one, write the main topic in the center of a sheet of paper. Around this topic, write out keywords for the major categories and then connect them with lines branching out from the topic. Continue down the hierarchy by adding more categories and keywords that relate to each main category until you have all the keywords you need. The keywords are the information-rich words that allow you to recall the whole idea. They are usually nouns, since it is much easier to remember things than abstract concepts. As you draw, you should use lots of different colors, shapes, symbols and pictures to involve more centers of your brain. The colors and symbols use the right brain and have emotional appeal, while the keywords engage the left brain.

To memorize a mind map, read it over and then look away and try to redraw it from memory. Compare your copy with the original and notice any gaps in your knowledge. Do this a couple of times until your new copy is the same as the original, and the map will be in your memory permanently. You will now be able to visualize it in your mind whenever you need the information.

Another way to use mind maps is to arrange ideas for writing, for example when writing a book, exam paper or letter. You can begin by brainstorming keywords from your subject on a piece of paper. Then, create a mind map on another paper from your keywords and draw the theme, headings, subheadings and connections you want. Once the mind map is complete, prioritize your keywords or headings and number them in the order they will appear in the document. As you write out the content of each heading you can tick them off from your mind map. Other uses of mind maps include preparing speeches, goals setting, planning, problem solving or any other form of creative work.

How to Draw a Mind Map

Drawing a mind map is as simple as 1-2-3:

Start in the middle of a blank page, writing or drawing the idea you intend to develop. I would suggest that you use the page in landscape orientation.

Develop the related subtopics around this central topic, connecting each of them to the center with a line.

Repeat the same process for the subtopics, generating lower-level subtopics as you see fit, connecting each of those to the corresponding subtopic.

Some more mind map recommendations:

• Use colors, drawings and symbols copiously. Be as visual as you can, and your brain will thank you. I’ve met many people who don’t even try, with the excuse they’re "not artists". Don’t let that keep you from trying it out!.

• Keep the topics labels as short as possible, keeping them to a single word – or, better yet, to only a picture. Especially in your first mind maps, the temptation to write a complete phrase is enormous, but always look for opportunities to shorten it to a single word or figure – your mind map will be much more effective that way.

• Vary text size, color and alignment. Vary the thickness and length of the lines. Provide as many visual cues as you can to emphasize important points. Every little bit helps engaging your brain.

• If you want to explore the use of Mind Map software, I suggest you try two of the free, opensource Mind Map Software packages: FreeMind and Xmind. I prefer Xmind, but many people like the simplicity and speed of FreeMind. See video below on the use of FreeMind.

• And another video on how to use mind maps to help you with your studies or learning.

• I hope you will accelerate your learning by the use of mind maps. They are fun and each is different from the other.

Aha! Mind Maps.