.::.Easy Mind Reading.::.

Definition of Mind Mapping

Mind Mapping is the representation of ideas and information in a visual form which the mind finds easier to visualise and remember. Images are located throughout the Mind Map with a larger central image or theme located at the centre of the Mind Map. Topics and subtopics are arranged around that central image.

Whether you want to plan, organize, memorize or be creative Mind Mapping is the most effective note taking technique and there are now a number of different Mind Mapping software tools available to facilitate the creation of Mind Maps.

Why create Mind Maps

Mind mapping is the most effective way of studying, generating new ideas, summarizing and organising information you want to recall. Mind maps can also facilitate creativity, problem solving, decision making and the generation of new ideas.

When revising for an exam it is crucial to be able to review the information quickly and efficiently. Mind Maps enable you to do this as they contain images which are easier to remember and can summarize the information and enable you to review that information at a glance. Also the most important information is located nearer the centre. The mind works best when it can see how the different topics or ideas are associated. With Mind Maps related information is linked by branches and connections. All of this insures that the mind has more connections or hooks to retain the information and prevent it from being lost from long term memory.

Revising for exams using Mind Maps

When revising for an exam it is best to determine what level of knowledge you have of that subject before you start. When you build upon that knowledge it will be easier to develop associations and connection from the knowledge you have already gained. Therefore create a Mind Map of what you already know. You may be surprised at how much you can recall.

Before you start obtain a large sheet of paper or if you are using Mind Mapping Software draw your central image at the centre of the page. This should represent the subject or topic you want to revise for. Add colour to insure it stands out. Now draw branches connecting that central image to the main topics or areas of that theme. You should continue using colour and try and use images instead of words if you can. Then draw sub-branches originating from the main topics. These sub-branches should connect to sub topics which contain more in depth information of the overall subject or topic. Try to use keywords or short phrases summarizing these key ideas that you can recall from memory and see how the different sub-topics and elements are associated.

You should avoid the temptation to write in sentences. Linear note taking uses this method and it is very ineffective for recalling important information. Try to include no more then 4 words when summarizing an idea or concept. If you can sum up an idea with one word then that is even better. Use plenty of colour and images to make key topics stand out with larger writing and images for the main topics that are nearer the centre of the Mind Map and smaller writing and images for those on the outside of the Mindmap. This will help your mind to visually organize the key topics from the sub-topics.

After you have recalled as much information as possible obtain the books that are most important for revision purposes. Flick through these books viewing the main chapter headings. Also take a look at the contents pages. Now speed read these books focusing in on the most important information and try and build upon what you already know. There is a common myth that speed reading significantly reduces comprehension and retention of information. Speed reading can actually increase retention of information as it enables you to gain a broader perspective of a subject or topic important for memory and can also help your mind piece together the information particularly when you come to read the information in more depth.

Prioritise those books that provide the most valuable information you require for passing the exam and read those books in depth.

Now add more detail to your Mind Map by adding branches and keywords and phrases after reading each category or section. These keywords or phrases should encapsulate the main ideas and sub-topics.

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.

Keep adding to your Mind Map after gaining knowledge that you consider important for the exam, whether it be from books, lectures or elsewhere. Your Mind Map should become larger and more branches should be created moving even further from the central theme. A detailed Mind Map summing up each area of knowledge in a word or key phrase will contain a lot of useful information. If your using Mind Mapping Software you should add notes providing more in depth information if needed.

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 recall information much easier when it can visualise a subject from a broader perspective, can visualise how the different topics and sub-topics are ordered and connected. If you combine this with the power of images which give the mind more mental hooks to latch onto you have the most effective method for learning and recall.