The amount of information we have to deal with in our
every day life is increasing at an exponential rate. To retain and communicate
all the necessary information more easily, it is essential to arrange it in a
comprehensive and clear structure. Properly organized information can be
understood and memorized with less effort. Representing information adequately
helps generate and assess new ideas and discover new
creative pathways.
An effective technique for visual knowledge representation
is mind mapping. Mind mapping allows structuring thoughts, questions and
project objectives to form a “map” which can be easily reviewed and memorized.
Mind mapping makes the thinking process visible, showing the key ideas,
different problems and milestones, and the way they are related to each other.
Being extremely “brain-friendly” method, mind mapping can be used in any aspect
of human life, ranging from learning and reviewing information to strategic
planning and complex project managing.
To create a mind map, choose the main topic or idea which
will be the central notion of the map. It can be represented by a key word or
an image. All the basic ideas should be placed on the branches connected to the
main topic. Other important facts and details can be added to the branches, so
that the mind map expands in a radiant fashion.
Creating a mind map is a kind of brainstorming exercise.
When working on a mind map, let your ideas flow freely, without much
consideration about the structure and hierarchy. This allows you to capture all
the details related to the topic. You can always reorganize the map items to
form a specific hierarchy later.
Mind mapping is a powerful, yet flexible way to visualize
information. It encourages creative thinking and helps summarize and share
large amounts of information much more easily.
Mind map® is a registered Trade Mark of Buzan Centers.